The tickets are tallied, the numbers are crunched and the results are in: The Traverse City Film Festival has wrapped up yet another successful year! 

Over 800 volunteers (and one paid employee) worked day and night to ensure the third annual film festival went off without a hitch. We estimate nearly 80 percent (approx. 45,000) of available tickets sold, with attendees spending over $450,000 on admissions and merchandise—$165,000 of that on the first day of sales. Compare that to our first year, where entire sales for the event totaled $150,000!

For the second year in a row, the festival brought in over 70,000 total admissions, despite being a day shorter and having two less free outdoor screenings than last year. Of the four free films that did show in the Open Space, there were as many as 5,000-7,000 filmgoers in attendance each night. 

Beside the Open Space, three other venues used last year—the State Theatre, City Opera House and Old Town Playhouse—were back again this year.  Additionally, the extra 850 seats in our new venue, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, allowed us to schedule multiple screenings of our most popular and sold-out films. In total, 61 feature films played at 98 different screenings during the week. 

Other highlights of the festival included: exclusive Q&A screenings with Michael Moore and Larry Charles, featuring never-before-seen footage from hit films “Sicko” and “Borat;” a surprise onstage appearance by Governor Jennifer Granholm at a screening of “Nimrod Nation;” and free filmmaker discussion panels each morning, featuring Hollywood guests such as Gretchen Mol, Terry George, Tod H. Williams and D.A. Pennebaker. 

Guests praised the festival’s laidback appeal, noting the city’s beautiful locale and friendly residents make this a very attractive event to attend each year.

“It’s nice to go to a festival and not be treated like cattle or a commercial commodity,” said John Laurence, director of “I Am an American Soldier: One Year in Iraq with the 101^st Airborne.”  

“Everyone here has been exceptionally nice,” he continued. “It’s restored some of the humanity to the festival process.” 

“Borat” director and festival board member Larry Charles agreed, saying most festivals act as a cutthroat marketplace where filmmakers compete for distribution. “This festival is the opposite,” he said. “It’s much more relaxing, because it’s a place where people can come and just enjoy the films.” 

The festival concluded Sunday evening with Michael’s presentation of the 2007 festival awards at the closing night party. Juries comprised of local film experts and industry insiders—a new addition this year—picked winners in a variety of fiction and non-fiction categories. The complete list of winners is as follows: 

Best Fiction Film
"Rocket Science" 

Best Non-Fiction Film
"War/Dance"

Special Jury Prize for Visual Impact
"Tuya's Marriage"

Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Writing
"Talk to Me"

Special Jury Prize for Narrative Perspective
"Blame It on Fidel" 

Special Jury Prize
"No End in Sight"

Audience Award Fiction Film
"Talk to Me"

Audience Award Non-Fiction Film
"No End in Sight"

Stanley Kubrick Prize for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking
"The Situation"

Kodak Cinematography Prize ($1500 in Film Stock)
"Tuya's Marriage"

Special Founders Prize
"I Am an American Soldier: One Year in Iraq with the 101^st Airborne"
"Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot"
"Miss Navajo"

Founders Prize
"Once"
"Please Vote For Me" 

During the festival, Michael also announced that the historic State Theatre will open permanently on November 17, with a Hollywood premiere and gala event scheduled for the grand opening. That’s only 13 weeks away—and we could definitely use your help in getting ready for the big day! To find out how you can get involved in bringing this beautiful theater back to life, call 231-392-1134 or check out our State Theatre section on the TCFF website: http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/statetheatre/.

The Drum Circle outside Miss Navajo at the State Theater - one of a number of photos from Day 6 of the TCFF.

View more photos from Day 4.

If you're wondering "What about day 5??" - never fear! We will be posting those when we round them up and also adding some to galleries already published.

Film critics Chris Borrelli (Toledo Blade) and Tom Long (Detroit News) with moderator Terry George at The Critics, one of the Traverse City Film Festival's Free Filmmaker Panels.

View more photos from Day 3.

Only two days in, and already the festival is full of surprises. No amount of planning can ever fully prepare you for the jubilant mayhem that descends on Traverse City once the festival finally begins!

Festivities officially kicked off Monday afternoon at the TCFF opening ceremony in front of the State Theatre. Hundreds of filmgoers and members of the press gathered on Front St. to watch Christine Lahti receive the 2007 Michigan Filmmaker Award, presented by Michael Moore and the rest of the board of directors, along with a group of state and local dignitaries. True to tradition, temperatures soared well into the 90s, with festival staff working hard to distribute bottled water to the gathered crowds. (Is it just me, or does the hottest day of the year inevitably fall on the one day of the festival we have an outdoor event mid-day?)

It was neat to witness one grateful man accept his free water, telling a volunteer, "They never do anything like this at other festivals." To us it seems natural to make sure no one passes out in exorbitant heat simply for wanting to come out and support good movies, but it reminded me that it's the little things we do–the small touches that keep us connected with the moviegoers and volunteers–that set us apart from other festivals. That's one of our top priorities at TCFF.

After the ceremony, the crowd relocated to Federico's Design Jewelers, where there was a V.I.P. reception for Christine Lahti. Grandview Catering provided some truly great appetizers and champagne, and everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere and the opportunity to meet the guests in a more intimate, relaxed setting. Soon after the reception began winding down, guests departed one by one to get ready for the opening night premiere of "Once."

Having come from an Irish background, I have a definite soft spot for Irish films and filmmakers, and "Once" didn't disappoint. A quiet, small-scale folk musical about two young musicians who meet, fall in love and record music together, "Once" was moving, engaging and joyously uplifting. At once perceptibly rough around the edges and also effortlessly elegant, the film was a perfect choice to start off the festival. For music fans, even if you didn't have a chance to see the film, I highly recommend picking up the soundtrack. You won't find a better one anywhere else all year.

We finished up Tuesday night with the opening night party at the Wade-Trim lot, which had been transformed by festival volunteers into a welcoming summer garden. Beautiful red lanterns and rows of graciously decorated tables hosted throngs of party guests, who enjoyed food and wine from area restaurants under the stars. A special thanks goes out to Neptune Quartet and Song of the Lakes, whose great music provided a perfect background to the party.

Now in its third day, the festival is in full swing and gaining more and more momentum by the day. Stay tuned to the blog for more updates coming soon! While you're at it, if you missed Monday or Tuesday's morning discussion panels, be sure to check them out on Interlochen Public Radio. They will be broadcast today and tomorrow at 1 p.m. on 91.5 FM, and are also available for download on the IPR website at www.interlochen.org/ipr.

Check out photos from the Day 2 of the Traverse City Film Festival in our 2007 Photo Gallery.