Traverse City Record-Eagle - 2008 Traverse City Film Festival

Moore shares some life lessons
A laid-back, more comfortable side of Michael Moore came through in the final panel discussion at the Traverse City Film Festival, as he reminisced with some old friends and co-workers about what it took to pull his films together.
10:18 p.m.: Festival award winners announced
Winners of the jury awards from the 2008 Traverse City Film Festival have been announced.
Film Festival Outtakes: 08/04/2008
Sights and sounds from the Film Festival.
Video: Standing ovation for Baghdad High
Only one of the four young men featured in "Baghdad High" was able to travel to Traverse City for the film's screening, but video was taken of the standing ovation to share with those who could not make it.
Sunday's Film Festival schedule
Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008.
What's funny? At this panel, almost anything
Comedy is a serious business. What's offensive, what's funny and the fine line in between was tackled by Saturday's Film Festival "All-Star Comedy Panel" in front of another large crowd at the City Opera House downtown.
Madonna: film was 'journey of lifetime'
World-famous superstar Madonna made a warm and much-welcomed return to her home state. quot;There's a lot of poetic things about me being here ...," Madonna told a packed State Theatre crowd Saturday night. "You know what they say. You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you can't take the Michigan out of the girl."
Crowd rewarded with wave from Madonna
They gathered for hours, waiting for a moment that lasted just five minutes. But what an important five minutes it was. Madonna, headliner of the fourth annual Traverse City Film Festival, stepped out of a sport-utility vehicle about 7:15 p.m. Saturday under the lights of the State Theatre downtown, as hundreds of fans screamed and snapped pictures.
Traverse City welcomes megastar Madonna
A packed movie house will see the queen of reinvention in person, but all of Traverse City has caught Madonna mania. The entertainment superstar, singer, tabloid fixture, trend-setter, philanthropist, Michigan native and Traverse City Film Festival headliner is scheduled to introduce her documentary "I Am Because We Are" at an 8 p.m. screening tonight at the downtown State Theatre.
Businesses help set tone for festival
If "just great movies" are the main attraction at the Traverse City Film Festival, downtown display windows celebrating cinema and its stars are helping to set the mood for the event.
Donahue panel takes a political turn
Michael Moore's Friday film discussion segued into a politically-charged anti-war rally. Moore and his guest panelist, former television talk show host Phil Donahue, related candid personal experiences and vented their frustrations in crossing paths with the country's corporate media.
Film takes aim at religions
The name of the movie "Religulous" pretty much describes how the filmmakers view organized religion. Combining the name of what many people hold dear with the word ridiculous may seem like box-office poison, yet its two showings at the Traverse City Film Festival were the first to sell out -- not counting Madonna's film. And director Larry Charles and star Bill Maher expect it to do well in multiplexes everywhere.
Film Festival Outtakes: 08/02/2008
Saturday's Film Festival schedule
Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008.
Friday's Film Festival schedule
Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.
Son chronicles father's persecution
Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted during the post-World War II red scare and spent years selling screenplays under assumed names. Now his son Christopher Trumbo is here to present "Trumbo," his own movie about his late father, telling the tale of that part of his life through letters his father wrote.
Review: 'Man on Wire' is a wild ride
Philippe Petit is alive. Alive and quite well, in fact, nearing 60 but exhibiting the strength and enthusiasm of a man half his age. That in itself is a bit of a miracle, considering the myriad death-defying acts the French high-wire artist has pulled off over the past four decades.
East meets West at film festival
The title pretty much says it all. "Movies from People who want to Kill Us." The new, tongue-in-cheek category at this year's Traverse City Film Festival may poke fun at the American perspective on Arab culture and its people, but five movies under the title are expected to give attendees something more to reflect on.
Film Festival Outtakes: 08/01/2008
Festival-goers snatch up T-shirts
Olivia Jankoski came to last year's Traverse City Film Festival with her family from New Jersey and bought a film festival sweater. This year the 11-year-old is on the other side of the counter, helping to sell film festival merchandise.
Panel discussion is take on terrorism
Filmmakers whose movies captured life and war in Iraq shared their insights with a Traverse City audience. An eight-member panel of documentary filmmakers gathered Thursday during the Traverse City Film Festival to sound off on the topic "Who Are These Terrorists, and Why Do They Make Movies?" But a packed audience at the City Opera House gleaned more than just a look into the mind of Middle East terrorists.
Film Festival lets kids in on the act
From workshops to free, nightly movies at the Open Space to student film discussions, this year's festival offers several opportunities for young people to get involved.
Film documents 'real-life' Spinal Tap
Canadian heavy metal band Anvil, hailed as a "real-life Spinal Tap," will visit the Traverse City Film Festival Friday and Saturday nights to play short sets following the screening of a documentary of the band's career.
Panel looks at state's film industry
The economic impact the film industry on both the Grand Traverse area and the state was the topic of discussion Wednesday during the Traverse City Film Festival's opening panel discussion "Front and Vine: Showing Movies at the State, Making Movies in Michigan."
Film Festival Outtakes: 07/31/2008
Sights and sounds from the 2008 Traverse City Film Festival.
Trailers feature local talent
"Cherry Birds" — which has two cherries that look like birds, or birds that look like cherries, talking about attending the Film Festival — is one of four new trailers that will show before festival movies this year as the result of an annual contest.
Film Festival Schedule: 07/31/2008
Schedule of Film Festival events for Thursday, July 31.
Action! Film Festival kicks off in TC
Oscar-winning screenwriter Kurt Luedtke will be the first celebrity to leave his mark on the new Traverse City Film Festival Walk of Fame.
Film fest draws thousands of volunteers
The volunteer ranks within the festival have steadily grown over the past four years to an army of thousands that organizers credit as the lifeblood of the five-day event.
Musical acts ‘set the tone’ at Film Fest
The growth of the Traverse City Film Festival extends to its musical participation.
Film Festival Schedule: 07/30/2008
Film Festival events and screenings for Wednesday, July 30.
Movie date features 'Dust,' popcorn
In observance of our 15th year of wedded bliss, my love and I are sharing the gift of cinema courtesy of the Traverse City Film Festival. However, tight work schedules and finding the perfect Mary Poppins baby-sitter made our choices limited. So that is why we'll be ingesting popcorn while watching a 90-minute documentary on dust -- in German. My throat is already parched in anticipation.
1:55 pm: Film Festival changes party location
The Traverse City Film Festival has moved the location of tonight's opening night party.
Dennos Museum hosts new festival venue
The Traverse City Film Festival has added a new venue at Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum Center and the addition couldn't have been smoother, museum officials said.
Film Festival Schedule: 07/29/2008
Film Festival events for opening day on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.
Theater upgrades to add to festival fun
The big screen at the State Theatre downtown stayed dark to moviegoers all weekend. But in the lobby, volunteers hustled to stock the venue's concessions counter. Onstage, a group of contractors were busy installing a new screen while illuminated by a single bright lamp. Back in the seats, a technician tuned the theater's sound output to ensure it was properly working.
'Magic' under the stars at Open Space
"There's no better place to see a film at this festival than on a (65-foot) screen sitting on the edge of our beautiful bay as the sun goes down and the stars come out," says Michael Moore.
'Ticket Swap' is new on festival site
New to the film festival this year is an online way for film buffs to get the tickets they want (think sold-out screenings) and get rid of others they can't use (think last-minute guests).
Eateries prep for festival crowds
The Traverse City Film Festival is here and many downtown restaurants are battening down the hatches in preparation for mass crowds, offering extended hours.
Festival praised for attracting new tourists
About 200,000 paid and free admissions to the Traverse City Film Festival prove its popularity the past three years, but festival founder Michael Moore hopes to position the area as more than a quick stop for movie buffs and popcorn-munching visitors.
Panels, screenings added to Film Fest schedule
Mull moviemaking with Michael Moore or chuckle with Larry Charles at five free discussion panels scheduled for the Traverse City Film Festival. Moore, festival president and founder, announced the lineup and topics for this year's panels.
Film Festival movies run the gamut
Tricia Noss cringes a little when she thinks about the 22 movies she'll see at this year's Traverse City Film Festival. But she recovers quickly. She tried to limit her ticket-buying this year, but in the end couldn't narrow her choices by much.
Outage halts Film Fest ticket sales
Early ticket sales for the Traverse City Film Festival should resume at noon today after a massive power outage hit the Canadian company that processes the event's ticket requests.
Donahue to screen film at Film Festival
Longtime talk-show host Phil Donahue will present his Iraq war documentary at the Traverse City Film Festival. Donahue wrote, directed and produced "Body of War," a documentary that follows an injured Iraq war veteran upon his return to the United States.
Festival announces Open Space films
Family-friendly films will be shown on a 60-foot inflatable screen at the bayfront park during the Traverse City Film Festival.
Madonna Film Festival tickets hit eBay
Traverse City Film Festival officials want an online auction site to remove ticket listings to a Madonna documentary screening, a marquee event of this summer's film event.
Fans brave weather for Madonna tickets
David Badour arrived at the State around 3 a.m. Thursday to be the first in line for tickets to see Madonna present her documentary, "I Am Because We Are," at this summer's Traverse City Film Festival. By the time tickets went on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday, Badour was at the head of a line of more than 300 people that snaked down Front and Park streets to the Grandview Parkway.
Hot item: Madonna tickets going on sale
Sales for what officials predict will be the hottest ticket at this summer's Traverse City Film Festival -- a documentary produced and presented by Madonna -- will begin Saturday at the State Theatre box office.
Madonna Film Fest tickets on sale Saturday
Tickets for pop artist Madonna's documentary and appearance at the Traverse City Film Festival go on sale Saturday morning, exclusively at the State Theatre box office downtown.
Editorial: Madonna will boost festival
Madonna's visit is a big moment for the festival and is sure to bring worldwide attention.
Madonna coming to TC for Film Festival
One of the biggest superstars in the entertainment industry will headline this year's Traverse City Film Festival. Madonna, the international pop music star, actress, author and the heart behind the new documentary "I Am Because We Are," will visit Traverse City Aug. 2 to show the film during the Traverse City Film Festival.
Film Festival invites public participation
As the Traverse City Film Festival gears up for its fourth annual run this summer, they're offering the public a number of ways to get involved.