Archive for category: News

Big things happened at the TCFF this year, one of them being the World Premiere of “Sister Cities” at Lars Hockstad Auditorium. The show was sold out, the line worked its way around the building, and anticipation and excitement hung in the air.

Director Sean Hanish and leading lady Amy Smart walked the red carpet and stopped for a quick photo-op and toast before entering the auditorium, settling into their seats, watching the finished project, and seeing all of their hard work come to life on the big screen.

Walking the red carpet wasn’t the only thing Amy participated in last night, she also left her mark on TCFF by adding a new set of hands to our Walk of Fame. Joining the likes of Michael Moore, Madonna, and Judd Apatow, Amy’s handprints will be part of the TCFF family and will soon be a permanent fixture outside of the State Theatre. Congrats to Amy and the cast and crew of “Sister Cities” for one heck of a premiere!

For those of you who couldn’t be with us for the festival’s awards ceremony, you can check it out online or by reading the list of winners below. Congrats to yet another incredibly talented group of films and filmmakers!

FOUNDERS AWARDS

Stuart J. Hollander Prize for Best Kids Film
“Oddball” Directed by Stuart McDonald

Buzz Wilson Prize for Best Avant Garde Film
“Elephant’s Dream” Directed by Kristof Bilsen

Roger Ebert Prize for Best FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY Film by a First Time Filmmaker
“Kings of Kallstadt” Directed by Simone Wendel

Roger Ebert Prize for Best FOREIGN FICTION Film by a First Time Filmmaker
“Sand Storm” Directed by Elite Zexer

Roger Ebert Prize for Best US DOCUMENTARY Film by a First Time Filmmaker
“The C Word” Directed by Meghan O’Hara

Roger Ebert Prize for Best US FICTION Film by a First Time Filmmaker
“Operator” Directed by Logan Kibens

MEN MAKE MOVIES AWARD
Jeff Grace, Director of “Folk Hero & Funny Guy”
Noah Buschel, Director of “The Phenom”
Brent Hodge, Director of “The Pistol Shrimps”
Sam Pollard, Director of “Two Trains Runnin‘”

Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking
“I Am Belfast” Directed by Mark Cousins

SPECIAL AWARD
“Trapped” Directed by Dawn Porter
“Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You” Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
“Taxi” Directed by Jafar Panahi

BEST FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY
“Disturbing the Peace” Directed by Steve Apkon and Andrew Young

BEST FOREIGN FICTION
“El Clasico” Directed by Halkawt Nustafa

BEST US DOCUMENTARY
“Cameraperson” Directed by Kirsten Johnson
“Unlocking the Cage” Directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus 

BEST US FICTION
“Maggie’s Plan” Directed by Rebecca Miller

Founders Grand Prize Best Film
“The Last Reel” Directed by Kulikar Sotho

AUDIENCE AWARDS

BEST US FICTION
“My Blind Brother” Directed by Sophie Goodhart

BEST US DOCUMENTARY
“Equal Means Equal” Directed by Kamala Lopez

BEST FOREIGN FICTION
“A Man Called Ove” Directed by Hannes Holm

BEST FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY
“Disturbing the Peace” Directed by Stephen Apkon & Andrew Young

BEST FICTION SHORT
“One Smart Fellow” Directed by Timothy Busfield & Tommy Lohmann

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“Pickle” Directed by Amy Nicholson

BEST KIDS FILM
“Taking Flight” Directed by Brandon Oldenburg

SHORT FILM AWARDS

SPECIAL MENTION SHORT FILM
“Snails” Directed by Grzegorz Szczepaniak

SPECIAL MENTION SHORT FILM
“Pearl” Directed by Patrick Osborne

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“Speaking is Difficult” Directed by A. J. Schnack

BEST FICTION SHORT
“Over” Directed by Jorn Threlfall

DOWNTOWN WINDOW CONTEST WINNERS

First Place
All Access Pass for two to the State and Bijou for one year and two tickets to the 2016 Filmmaker Party
Cherry Republic
Second Place
$25 Gift Card & 12 Tickets to State and Bijou
Becky Thatcher Designs

Third Place
TCFF Merchandise
Great Lakes Bath & Body

 

 

We’ve taken your feedback to heart and added an EXTRA SCREENING of one of your favorite films from this year’s festival – “The Last Reel.” It’s been an absolute phenomenon at the festival, and likely to take home one of the festival’s top awards, which is why we want you to have the chance to see it after the first two screenings sold out completely!

Director Kulikar Sotho has flown in from Cambodia (one of the direct Cambodia-to-Traverse City flights, of course!) to be here for the screening. The groundbreaking film is made by the first Cambodian woman to direct a feature since 1970. Don’t miss this intimate experience with a great Q&A following the film.

Read a rave review from The Hollywood Reporter and buy tickets for tonight’s 11 pm screening at the Bijou by the Bay HERE!

Lots of things to do at the festival this week from Open Space, special screenings, kids fest, the marquees, and the beautiful sunsets! Hashtag your instagram pics of the festival with #tcff to share some of your festivities with us!

#tcff #tc #downtown #thestatetheater #home

A photo posted by Debbie Lopez (@deblopez0502) on Jul 28, 2016 at 12:51pm PDT

#filmmaker #boatcruise #lakemichigan #tcff ????

A photo posted by Simone Wendel (@diefrauwendel) on Jul 28, 2016 at 5:23pm PDT

“Some people are worth melting for” new display! We can’t wait to see Frozen in the open space on Sunday night! #disneyfrozen #olaf #love #happy #greatmovies #windowdisplay #elsa #bath #bathandbody #tcff #downtowntc

A photo posted by Great Lakes Bath + Body: (@greatlakesbb) on Jul 28, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT

One of the shots from the opening night at the #TraverseCityFilmFestival. I’m excited to be back in #TraverseCity playing at the Open Space/#BeatsByTheBay Sunday at 4 pm, and also before the movie #HuntForTheWilderpeople (stand by line only – currently sold out) at 9 pm at the Old Town Playhouse. @tcfilmfest #msutcff #MichaelMoore #InfinitelyPolarBear #tclyfe  #tcff #filmfestival #tcmi #downtowntc #justgreatmovies

A photo posted by Eric Smith (@musicbyericsmith) on Jul 28, 2016 at 1:36pm PDT

Director Kamala Lopez with equality pals, Christine Lahti and Michael Moore. We can’t think of more inspiring place for the world premiere of #EqualMeansEqual than the #TraverseCityFilmFest! #TCFF #tc ????

A photo posted by Equal Means Equal (@equalmeansequal) on Jul 28, 2016 at 5:02pm PDT

Movies are better on the bay. #TCFF #TCMI #puremichigan #bigscreen

A photo posted by Nick Hawkins (@pthawk14) on Jul 28, 2016 at 5:10pm PDT

I got to see Citizen Kane in the historic State Theatre on its 100th anniversary. Orson Welles’ daughter was in attendance and she gave a great Q&A after the film. I love the Traverse City Film Festival! #TCFF #notpretentiousatall #citizenkane #beatricewelles

A photo posted by @win6low on Jul 28, 2016 at 12:57pm PDT

@michiganstateu President Lou Anna Simon, #tcff Founder @michaelfmoore, MSU GEL Lab Director Brian Winn, and MSU Dean of the College of Communication Prabu David during the interactive session at The Woz @hotelindigotraversecity

A photo posted by Northern Express (@northernexpressmi) on Jul 28, 2016 at 7:45pm PDT

Volunteering at the Traverse City Film Fest teaching kid yoga!! Oh what fun ???????? #tcff #kidyoga #kidsfest #volunteer #justgreatmovies

A photo posted by Kelsea (@yogini.kelsea) on Jul 28, 2016 at 10:09am PDT

Great time with awesome gals ???? . . . #tcff #puremichigan #traversecity #filmfestival

A photo posted by Bethany Phillips (@northerngirltc) on Jul 28, 2016 at 11:46am PDT

Stormy night. A film in black and white. A ukulele feels so right. #TCFF #tcukeguy #ukuleke #love

A video posted by Maria Kinney (@mariatherese) on Jul 28, 2016 at 4:08pm PDT

Beautiful night at the fest #tcff #traversecity #puremichigan

A photo posted by Sara Miller (@sjmiller28) on Jul 28, 2016 at 6:11pm PDT