There were bands playing. Vendors selling. People celebrating. Balloons…gyrating? And all of it took place in one square block in downtown Traverse City. Ladies and gentlemen, we present you with…Opening Night of the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival.

Walking downtown at 5:30 last night, it was amazing to see how crowded the streets were getting already. A good crowd gathered to watch Charlie's Root Fusion play on the corner of Front and Cass:

Turning left and heading toward the State from the band, I was immediately confronted with the most outlandish, confectionary balloon creations I have ever seen in my life. We were promised great things from New York artist Jason Hackenwerth, and he did not disappoint. These guys were the life of the party:

   

Passing the balloons, I made my way toward the State, where a large crowd of excited fans and camera-laden press were gathered around the stage where the Opening Ceremony would be held. Filmmaker Rich Brauer, who was scheduled to receive the Michigan Filmmaker of the Year award, posed for photos and chatted with attendees:

                 

Former Governor Milliken was also warmly greeted by the crowd:

 

Finally, it was time for the ceremony to get underway. An announcement was made that there is a documentary being made about the film festival this year, and that the crowd would play a role in it. We were asked to chant "Happy fifth anniversary, TCFF!" in unison for the cameras. Being the obliging types we are, we took it a step further and added hand motions:

After that, Michael Moore took the stage and introduced Traverse City mayor Michael Estes, who asked the locals to put their hands over their ears and then welcomed out-of-town visitors with the promise, "The weather is like this 365 days a year. Be sure to come back and visit us."

Michael Moore introduced two new honorary co-chairs to the festival this year, which will become an annual tradition. The two individuals chosen for 2009 were Susan Brown and Jason Pollock, whom Michael praised as "doing the hard work to actually make the festival happen its first year." Michael then invited TCFF co-founders John Robert Williams and Doug Stanton to the stage to present the Michigan Filmmaker Award to Rich Brauer. John spoke about how he and Rich went all the way back to 1974, when they were taking photography classes together at NMC. He presented Rich with the award, noting: "It's wonderful to give this to someone who didn't go off to Hollywood, but who stayed here in Michigan to keep making films." Later that evening, at the Opening Night Party, I asked Rich about the experience, and he responded with sincere gratitude: "It's so wonderful to be acknowledged for the work you do. It was an honor to be up there."

Departing from tradition, the Opening Ceremony closed not with a ribbon cutting, but a ripping of this year's first TCFF ticket. "I love the barcode on this," Michael laughed:

With the film festival officially underway, the crowd quickly dissipated to head to the opening night screening, "Troubled Water." At the State, the film's director - Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe - told the crowd how he normally hated traveling with his films to festivals, and had asked if he could stay home to start work on his next film rather than tour the circuit with "Troubled Water." But when Michael wanted to show it as the opening night film for TCFF, Erik explained: "I couldn't say no. Michael is an inspiration to me. He's even bigger in Europe than he is here." Erik also complimented Traverse City in his charming slightly broken English - "so beautiful place" - and also the State Theatre, which he called "the most beautiful cinema I've ever been in."

It was, no doubt, a perfect setting in which to watch "Troubled Water." The program guide description hints at the tragic dramatic turns in this film (which I feel are better left unshared to preserve their emotional impact), but even that doesn't fully prepare you for the wallop this film packs. I will say it is one of the most emotionally moving, cathartic movies I've ever seen at the festival. If you are a parent, it may be a tough watch - but such an elegiac treatise on redemption, atonement and forgiveness. If you missed it last night, be sure to catch it in the theater or on DVD if you get the opportunity.

Post-screening, attendees flocked to the Opening Night Party at the Wade Trim parking lot, where event planner Allison Beers once again pulled off a great soiree:

Filmmakers and guests - including Erik Poppe ("Troubled Water"), Bob Byington ("Harmony and Me"), Justin Rice ("Harmony and Me"), Ben Steinbauer ("Winnebago Man") and several others - mingled in the crowd, enjoying the food, drinks, live music and dancing. When festivities officially shut down at 11:30, the place was still packed - a sure sign of a good party.

Today will kick off the first full day of the film festival, including morning film panels, afternoon film school, and screenings at the multiple TCFF venues through midnight. More photos, interviews and stories are coming soon, so be sure to check back often!