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2009 film fest is 'pretty popular'
John and Ruth Buta spent their 51st wedding anniversary at the Traverse City Film Festival, where they had to sit separately at a sold-out screening of "Mike's Surprise." But the couple got an anniversary gift before the film started, when Ruth Buta's name was drawn for a private "test screening" of festival founder Michael Moore's new film in the next few weeks.
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Moore: New movie on truth of bailout
Michael Moore said his new movie will "tell you the truth about the bailout, the crash, the robbery that's taken place." Moore talked about "Capitalism: A Love Story" following a screening of his first movie, "Roger & Me," Saturday night at the Traverse City Film Festival.
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Young filmmakers learn the craft
Young filmmakers honed their skills at this year's Traverse City Film Festival. Many said they picked up things they wouldn't be able to learn elsewhere.
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Film Festival Outtakes: 08/03/2009
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Video: "Mr. JoJangles" in downtown TC
A video clip of "Mr. JoJangles" performing in downtown Traverse City during the film festival.
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Film Festival outtakes: 08/02/2009
Saturday's numbers make it look like this year's film festival was ... ta-da! ... the best ever. Estimates have admissions at more than 96,000. That doesn't include "Big" at the Open Space. Last year, there were 80,000 admissions. Plus more outtakes from around town.
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Michigan runners win Stars of the Mile
It was a Michigan day. Rondell Ruff won the men's Stars of the Mile -- the reincarnation of the Golden Mile -- by over a second to finish off a Wolverine sweep, as fellow former University of Michigan runner Nicole Edwards won the women's race.
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Festival energy is 'contagious'
Festival attendees can take home T-shirts and ticket stubs as mementos of the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival. Or, they can take home original artwork and memories of local music.
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Film Festival schedule: 08/02/2009
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Buskers: Will play for ... fun
Buskers are taking to the pavement during the Traverse City Film Festival for an audience of art-lovers.
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No joke! Plans in the works for comedy fest
Jeff Garlin, of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and Traverse City Film Festival co-founder Michael Moore told a crowd Saturday at a comedy panel discussion that plans are in the works to hold -- what else? -- a comedy festival in town next spring.
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Council says film incentive program is safe
Michigan's film incentives are safe, despite reports to the contrary, said the Michigan Film Office director.
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Film Festival outtakes: 08/01/2009
Zoltar, the wish-granter from "Big," will be at the Open Space before tonight's screening of the movie to field wishes. Plus more outtakes from around town.
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Film Festival schedule: 08/01/2009
The Saturday schedule for the Traverse City Film Festival.
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'Roger & Me' gets anniversary screening
"Roger and Me" shows Moore pursuing Smith to confront him about the impact on Flint following massive job cuts at GM. The film gets a 20th anniversary screening tonight at 9 p.m. at the State Theatre. The screening is sold out, but standby tickets may be available.
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Short films find home at fest
Ian Hollander's first job, back in middle school, was at the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay, working concessions, or in the projection room, or whatever was needed. "That's where I got interested in films," Hollander, 23, said. Now he's making them. Hollander's short film, "All of Me," is one of 14 "Shorts by Students" screening at the Traverse City Film Festival Sunday at noon at the Old Town Playhouse.
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Film gurus work hard for the audience
A patron wouldn't know it from the plush theater seat, but there's a lot happening in the projectionist booth to make movie magic.
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Film Festival schedule: 07/31/2009
Today at the Traverse City Film Festival
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'Hair' brings out the free spirits
As the sounds of a roots band filled the Open Space, Lanae Sambrano-Bartz danced on the grass in bellbottoms and a midriff-baring sweater, a headband holding back her long hair threaded with braids.
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Fewer festival films will return to State
The people who live in Traverse City can hang onto one thing during the Traverse City Film Festival. Some of these movies are coming back. But there won't be as many returning next year, according to film festival officials. The returning movies don't bring in as many people as other movies, they said, and the only returning movie that drew decent crowds last year was "Kenny."
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Film Festival outtakes: 07/31/2009
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Students learn the ropes of documentaries
It took Kevin McMahon six years to complete his film, "Waterlife" -- two years to make it and four years to raise money for it. It's the kind of detail prospective documentary makers rarely consider but almost certainly will face, McMahon said in a TCFF Film School session Thursday called "Documentary 101."
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Kids festival gets rave reviews
Kids eagerly awaited the first film to be shown at the new Traverse City Kids Film Festival. Their line stretched around the block.
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Back to the '60s at fest for 'Woodstock'
By the time they got to "Woodstock" they were half a thousand strong. Wearing tie-dye and peace signs, beads and feathers, baby boomers came to the State Theatre in droves Tuesday and Wednesday to recapture a bit of their youth at anniversary screenings of "Woodstock: The Director's Cut."
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Documentary examines poet/funeral director
Thomas Lynch recalled the first time he saw a dead body. "I wasn't frightened, but I was changed," described Lynch in "Learning Gravity." The film will be screened today and Friday at the Traverse City Film Festival.
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Adapted In TC: Tips for navigating fest
I learned much of what I know about film festival accessibility by attending the Cannes Film Festival. That gigantic international event attends to every language, nationality, class and physical ability. I was impressed with both the overall operation and attention given to every detail. Here in Traverse City, local people with disabilities and others have worked to improve accessibility and accountability at the Traverse City Film Festival.
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Film Festival Outtakes: 07/30/3009
Inside news from the Traverse City Film Festival. Among today's tid-bits: Gracie came home. The dog of projectionist Bill Hill had been missing since July 2. Hill, of Santa Fe, N.M., was tracking her via Web postings and phone calls while he-s here for the film festival. He found out Wednesday that she-s home, safe and sound.
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Film fest offers treats for every taste
And the 5th annual Traverse City Film Festival wouldn't be complete without quintessential movie foods such as popcorn, pop and candy. Throw in cherries, sandwiches and desserts made by local businesses, and festival-goers can have it all -- dinner and a movie.
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Film Festival Schedule: 07/30/2009
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Quest for tickets is 'part of the game'
Carole Trahan almost had every ticket she wanted to this year's Traverse City Film Festival. Almost. She found seats for most of her desired screenings, but she never did get tickets to the bookend films. "That's part of the game," she said.
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Roll 'Em: Film Festival gets under way
Hundreds of people gathered for food, speeches and performance art as a street party on the closed-off 200 block of East Front Street opened the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival.
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Film Festival schedule: 07/29/2009
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Film Festival outtakes: 07/29/2009
Before Thursday's showing of "Hair" at the Open Space, there will be a Crazy Hair Contest. Wear a crazy wig or dress up your own hair for a chance to win a basket of goodies from local salons. Plus more outtakes from around town.
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Early environmental leader to appear
Before Al Gore there were Stewart Udall, Paul Ehrlich, Hunter Lovins -- and Stephanie Mills. The Maple City author, lecturer and bioregionalist is among early leaders of the modern environmental movement that began with the first Earth Day in April 1970, and is chronicled in the feature documentary "Earth Days."
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Film Festival schedule: 07/28/2009
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VIPs to lounge in State's new 'green room'
The State Theatre's 500-square-foot "green room," where VIPs at this week's Traverse City Film Festival will gather, has a $42,000 upgrade -- almost all of that donated. The film festival opens today and runs through Sunday.
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Film Festival outtakes: 07/28/2009
At least 130 people applied for media credentials for this year's film festival, with "a bunch" coming from Italy, volunteers said. Plus more outtakes from around town.
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Brauer to be named Filmmaker of the Year
Rich Brauer admits he goes about his business differently than other filmmakers. "I use locations and resources I know I can get my hands on, then I write a story around that," said Brauer, who will be named Michigan Filmmaker of the Year at today's opening ceremonies for the Traverse City Film Festival.
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Traverse City Film Festival turns 5 years old
The film festival is 5 years old. If it were a kid, it would be going to kindergarten. And it is, kind of. This year, the Traverse City Film Festival added a film school -- one of many developments to occur as the event matured.
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Popcorn can be used in meals
Salt and butter: That perfect popcorn accompaniment. Or caramel, cheese and chocolate. But meatloaf? Indeed. Even in macaroni and cheese or paired with peppermint, there's a popcorn recipe to satisfy every craving and create a multi-course meal.
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Film Festival Outtakes: 07/27/2009
Insider info from the 5th annual Traverse City Film Festival.
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House Rules: Tips help you be a good house guest, host
Many northern Michigan residents are accustomed to hosting guests, who want to spend vacation near the area's scenic lakes, drinking local wine or participating in festivals. A welcoming host and a gracious guest will make for a successful stay.
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Couple to walk down the (movie) aisle
Adam Ziegler and Erynn Rademacher got their Hollywood ending. The local couple met in line at the State Theatre at a 2007 Traverse City Film Festival midnight screening of a Korean horror flick. A year later, Ziegler proposed on-screen in a personal video introduced by festival founder Michael Moore. And today, just days before this year's festival, the two movie buffs will exchange wedding vows on the State's stage.
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What's new at this year's film fest
Scott Tompkins spends the school year teaching photography and video at Suttons Bay High School. This summer, he's organizing a film school and his summer students are very eager. The film school is just one of many new things to see and do during this, the fifth annual festival.
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Film festival announces more screenings
Extra screenings of sold-out films have been added to the Traverse City Film Festival schedule, just before public ticket sales begin. Public sales begin Saturday at noon, in person, at the film festival box office, 300 E. Front St. in Radio Centre.
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Fest lineup has films from 30 countries
Documentaries "starring planet Earth," movies from Tehran, Texas and Norway, and short movies by budding filmmakers help make up the lineup of 121 movies at this year's Traverse City Film Festival. There are 71 features and 50 shorts on this year's schedule. The film festival runs July 28 through Aug. 2.
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'Julie and Julia' at film festival
The Traverse City Film Festival will host the Midwest premiere of "Julie and Julia," starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep, as its closing night movie Aug. 2.
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TC Film Fest has a hint of hippie this year
The Traverse City Film Festival is celebrating the summer of love with a director's cut of "Woodstock," a visit from Wavy Gravy and a planned screening of "Hair" at the Open Space. The full lineup of films is expected to be announced July 2, according to Deb Lake, executive director.
