A Message from Mike: Won’t You Be My TCFF Friend?

Friends,

This Sunday is when our Friends of the Film Festival get first crack at tickets to this year’s Traverse City Film Festival. It’s an incredible lineup of films and filmmakers from the world over.

If you’re not a friend already and you want the best shot at locking in your perfect movie schedule, there’s still time to become a Friend and get your tickets one week before they go on sale to the general public on Saturday, July 21. You’ll also get other great perks like exclusive movie screenings and discounts to festival parties.

Become a Friend of the Festival today.

As a Friend of the Film Festival, you can buy your tickets this Sunday morning, July 15th (line forms early at the State Theatre!). Tickets go on sale at 10 am at the Main Box Office (returning this year to 121 E Front Street in the Ecco Event Space) and you are welcome to wait your turn in the climate-controlled comfort of the State Theatre.

Or simply go online at tcff.org beginning Sunday at 6 pm. We make it so smooth and easy, the only hard part is choosing from our 250+ screenings and events.

And we have a few new programming updates before tickets go on sale. First, our screenings of the new documentary “The Cold Blue” will now also feature the the world premiere of a sparkling, just-completed 4K restoration of William Wyler’s original 1944 war doc “The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress” with Wyler’s daughter Catherine in person. This will be a look into WWII history like you’ve never seen before.

Secondly, we’ve added an entirely new film, “Luba,” for one special screening.

Here are some of the other fine films we’re bringing this year:

Woman Walks Ahead

The always outstanding Jessica Chastain leads this drama about the woeful treatment of our nation’s native people. One of the most unforgettable cinema experiences I’ve had this year, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

Sea Sorrow

Academy Award-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave makes her directorial debut at the prime age of 81 with this harrowing and emotional documentary about the European refugee crisis that also draws from her own experience as a child in war-torn Britain. Ms. Redgrave hopes to attend.

Our New President

The Russians didn’t just “weigh in” on our election, they covered it too. An incredible hilarious documentary built entirely from footage about President Donald J. Trump as presented by Russian media. This is one crazy movie.

In the Fade

Winner of the 2018 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and a career-defining performance from Diane Kruger, this is a timely and gut-wrenching thriller set in the current rise and return of the fascist right in Germany.

Hostiles

One of my favorite movies of the year. Set a few months after the massacre at Wounded Knee, bringing about the end of the official annihilation of the Indians, this powerful movie is not to be missed. Christian Bale is phenomenal. Also starring Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Ben Foster, and Timothée Chalamet.

Filmworker

Leon Vitali gave up his thriving acting career to become filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man, and eventually Kubrick’s link to the outside world. This film explores their interdependent relationship and offers insight into the life of a cinema giant.

Disobedience

Strikingly intimate performances from Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams makes this film one of the most talked about movies of the year.

Diane

We are honored and thrilled that the head of the New York Film Festival, Kent Jones, will be joining us in Traverse City with his feature film debut. Winner of the top prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, this film is subtle, sympathetic, and full of heart.

The Captain

Based on a true story about a German army deserter during the last two weeks of WWII, this dark and at times absurdist drama is unlike any war film you’ve seen before.

Hungarian Director Ferenc Török will join us in person for a special screening of his masterpiece, a thought-provoking look set in a post-war Hungarian village that challenges our understanding of what is right and what it true.

1945

Hungarian Director Ferenc Török will join us in person for a special screening of his masterpiece, a thought-provoking look set in a post-war Hungarian village that challenges our understanding of what is right and what it true.

Now I’ll leave you to it. It’s a choose-your-own adventure kind of festival and the best thing about that is that there’s no one way to do it — and also no wrong turn you can make. Uplifting, spirit-soaring documentary at 9 am. Lunch with friends downtown at noon. Gut-wrenching world view-changing foreign film at 3. Insightful panel discussion at 6. It’s all there just waiting for you to discover.

Happy Ticketing!

Michael Moore