Â
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!Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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 101st Airborne.” Â
“Everyone here has been exceptionally nice,” he continued. “It’s restored some of the humanity to the festival process.”Â
“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.”Â
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:Â
Best Fiction Film
"Rocket Science"Â
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"Â
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 101st Airborne"
"Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot"
"Miss Navajo"
Founders Prize
"Once"
"Please Vote For Me"Â
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/.