Archive for category: News

Take a bow — or take a nap — because you did it! 10 years of Just Great Movies, and we owe it all to you, our incredible volunteer army of love, now over 1,600 strong. 

In the 24,000+ hours you so generously donated to the film festival this year, you welcomed over 131,000 admissions across 12 venues at 250 screenings. You served over 10,000 popcorns, 15,000 drinks, 4,500 boxes of candy, and 1,800 sandwiches; shared the charm and beauty of Traverse City with over 110 filmmakers and guests from around the world; and opened two new venues — one of which wasn’t even on land!

We never tire of hearing the glowing reports from filmmakers, patrons, and guests about the amazing volunteers they encounter during festival, people who go above and beyond to make the TCFF experience everything it is. Answering the call when extra help was needed, offering a friendly high-five to visiting newbies, sharing your local know-how, and making our venues truly shine — you are the heart and soul of this festival, and everything that makes it so special that it’s become world renowned.

We also never tire of expressing our profound gratitude — there are just not enough ways for us to say that TCFF Volunteers are simply the best!

I hope you had a great time at the volunteer party and that you’ve been able to kick back and enjoy a well-deserved celebration. If you find yourself missing the festival, check out some of the things you may have missed while busy volunteering in the festival montage put together by our videography team, and the stellar photographs taken by Michael Poehlman, Gary Howe, and the rest of our world-class volunteer photographers.

As part of our ongoing effort to improve your volunteer experience, we’d love it if you would take a few minutes to complete this survey, or just hit reply and share your thoughts with us. We truly value your input as we prepare to take this festival into its second decade, and we want to hear from you.

Thank you again for — I know I’ve said it before, but it’s true — the best festival yet! We are beyond grateful for your smiles, unfailing commitment, amazing talents, laughter, and eagerness to pitch in and create something wonderful for our community. May the force be with you!

This year, TCFF is auctioning off 55 fun and unique items and events to support the Walk of Fame, a heated sidewalk outside the State Theatre on Front Street. The sidewalk will be made up of various concrete handprints the festival has been collecting over the last nine years from visiting filmmakers and celebrities. Some notable names that will be included on the walk include Madonna, Stanley Donen, Wim Wenders, Paul Feig, Roseanne Barr, John Waters, Matthew Modine, Phil Donahue, Rosie O’Donnell, Brit Marling, Patton Oswalt, and many more. 

With the auction closing on Tuesday, August 5th at 11:59 p.m., you still have time to get bidding. Liven up the streets of downtown Traverse City and ass a bit of Hollywood flair by supporting this groundbreaking project. Browse the online catalog, bid on items, and help us create our Walk of Fame! 

To get you started, here are just ten the many auction items you should definitely check out right now:

Michael Moore Experience at the Toronto International Film Festival — Can’t get enough of film festivals? Wondering what to do after TCFF10 wraps up? Keep the good times coming by bidding on two tickets to an event presented by Michael Moore at the Toronto International Film Festival and a chance to chat with Michael himself! The event will take place from September 7th – 9th in Toronto, Canada. Gain first-hand insight and get to know Michael whilst attending one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.

Grand Traverse Distillery Gift Basket — Explore the famous Grand Traverse Distillery and enjoy its different brews with this prize package. The gift basket contains: a 5th of Ole George, 5th of Peninsula Gin, 5th of True North Vodka, 2 highball glasses, 2 rocks glasses, a shot glass, a GTD black ball cap, a GTD embroidered black camp shirt, 8oz. Dark Espresso Leather Flask, McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix, Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic, and a certificate for a private tour/tasting for up to twelve people.

Jennifer Aniston’s Suede Jacket from “Life of Crime” — Do you like Jennifer Aniston? Do you like vintage clothing? Do you like jackets?  Bid on this now! Own the jacket worn by Jennifer Aniston in “Life of Crime!” In the film directed by Daniel Schechter (TCFF ’12) that made its US Premiere at the Traverse City Film Festival, Aniston sports this 70s style vintage peacoat. Prominently featured in the film, this jacket is equipped with the authentic pocket warmers that Aniston used on set.

Coffee with Celebrity Actor Matthew Modine — Do you like film? Do you like Matthew Modine? Do you like coffee? If you answered “yes” to any of these two questions, then click your way to the auction and bid on this item right now. The lucky winner of this item will get to meet celebrity actor Matthew Modine (“JOBS,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Cat 8”) for coffee or tea in the Los Angeles area.

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Michael Moore and our Board of Directors presented an array of awards tonight.  Read the list of all our Audience and Founders awards, including our first ever double award winner, “Meet the Patels!”

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience Award Winner for Best American Film: “5 to 7”

Audience Award Runner Up for Best American Film: “Sister”

Audience Award Winner for Best Foreign Film: “One Chance”

Audience Award Runner Up for Best Foreign Film: “The Hunt”

Audience Award Winner for Best Documentary Film: “Meet the Patels”

Audience Award Runner Up for Best Documentary Film: “The Case Against 8”

Audience Award Winner for Best Kids Film: “Thunder and the House of Magic”

Audience Award Winner for Best Narrative Short: “Pony Place”

Audience Award Winner for Best Documentary Short: “The Lion’s Mouth Opens”

Audience Award Winner for Best Kids Short: “Gnarly in Pink”

FOUNDERS AWARDS

Discovery Award: Grace Kaufman

Visionary Award: Ira Deutchman

Visionary Award: Rick Prelinger

Changemaker Award: Tom Morello

Michigan Filmmaker Award: Robert J. Flaherty

Mid-Lfe Achievement Award: Barbara Kopple

Founders Grand Prize for Best Film: “Rich Hill”

Founders Grand Prize for Best Film: “Meet the Patels”

Founders Prize for Best Drama: “Omar”

Founders Prize for Best Comedy: “The Volcano”

Founders Prize for Best Documentary: “Finding Vivian Maier”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “Life Itself”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “The Newburgh Sting”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “Silenced”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “Rubber Soul”

Founders Prize, Special Award: “Don’t Leave Me”

Founders Prize for Best Narrative Short “Kakara”

Founders Prize for Best Documentary Short: “A Hole in the Sky”

Founders Prize for Special Mention Short Film: “I Think This is the Closest to How the Footage Looked ”

Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking: “Stations of the Cross”

Roger Ebert Prize for Best Film by a First Time Filmmaker: “Fishing Without Nets”

Stuart Hollander Prize for Best Kids Film: “Rabbit and Deer”

Buzz Wilson Prize for Best Experimental/Avant Garde Film: “Eleven Forty Seven”

TCFF FIM GROUP BUMPER CONTEST WINNERS

First Place ($1,000!): “Homemade” – Colin Campbell 

Second Place: “Paper Movies” – Claire Holloway 

Third Place: “Marv & Marvin: Wash Your Hands” – John Plough

Honorable Mention: “Corny Anniversary” – Eve Hinz

Honorable Mention: “Whatever It Takes” – Layne Austin Simescu

TCFF DOWNTOWN WINDOW DECORATION CONTEST

First Place: Great Lakes Bath & Body

Second Place: Toy Harbor

Third Place: Ella’s

TCFF will be hosting a “Wizard of Oz”-themed costume contest tomorrow at the Closing Night Bash! Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. The contest is for all ages, and costumes for any character from the film are welcome. Follow the yellow brick road to the Open Space at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 3rd for your chance to enter!