TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Film Festival founder Michael Moore gave the audience two surprises at Sunday's "Mike's Surprise": a special screening of his 2002 live stage show in London and one of local resident Adam Ziegler proposing to girlfriend Erynn Rademacher — both of who were in the audience — in front of the State Theatre.
The sold-out screening of "Michael Moore Live in London" at Lars Hockstad Auditorium was one of dozens of events scheduled for closing night of the fourth annual film festival. The film — expected to be released in 2009 except in the U.S., where its political content might be too explosive — was such a carefully guarded secret that not even the venue or stage managers knew ahead of time what it would be, said Karle Stewart, assistant manager at Lars.
"Nobody knows what's going to be showing until he starts running it," Stewart said. "It's a unique experience, that's for sure."
Although the festival ended with more films at 9 p.m. and dusk, the official closing film was the comedy "Hamlet 2," which showed simultaneously at the City Opera House and at the State Theatre.
Ellie Knaus attended the sold-out screening at the State, where the film's producer and son of Disney CEO Michael Eisner was expected to answer questions later.
"I'm sad," said Knaus, an actor from Los Angeles and a summer resident whose husband, Adam Sztykiel, wrote the screenplay for "Maid of Honor." "It's like one week Hollywood comes back to us, but a better version. Everyone's really nice."
For others, the end of the festival was tinged with a bit of relief.
"We're glad, but we're not glad," said volunteer Joyce Peiffer, who took annual leave from her job as a state auditor to volunteer at the festival and take in 11 movies.
At the Open Space, friends Jesse Muns, Tyler Cole and Ben Mohrhardt arrived three hours early to get front row seats at the final Open Space Outdoor Cinema, "Ghost Busters." The boys were disappointed earlier in the week when the film — originally scheduled for opening day — was postponed because of lightning.
"We brought blankets so we could be extra close," said Cole, 12, of Los Angeles, who carried a movie scrapbook from a special edition DVD of the film.
Matt Soltysiak was among the 500 to 600 people expected to rub elbows with film festival VIPs at the closing night party on the lawn at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums welcomed arrivals to the event, held under a giant white tent with tables decked out in black and white cloths, pink roses and hydrangeas.
"I love the atmosphere that comes to town with the festival," said Soltysiak, of Traverse City, who also volunteered at the festival. "Look around: you see a lot of fashionable people, a lot of younger people."
Howard and Deb Vogel were attending the party after having gone to the opening night party two years ago. Like others there, the Long Lake Township couple were using the occasion to reflect on what they'd seen over the week — including their favorite film, "Tell No One" — and to compare this year's festival to those before it.
"Before there was more of an association with Michael Moore," Howard Vogel said. "Now there's more of an association with the event. It's winning people over. There's deeper representation from people who come for the right reasons."
"What's built after four years is the anticipation," said Deb Vogel. "When is it going to come?"
Not everyone bought into the film festival frenzy this year. As movie fans began to gather at the Open Space, Acme resident Connie Costa closed her book and prepared to leave.
"I've seen one film in two years," said Costa. "I'm more of an outdoors person. I would rather be on a boat or out walking or biking."
Some 80,000 admissions were racked up at this year's festival. The 2009 festival will be held July 28-Aug. 2.
Traverse City Film Festival
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