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.