University of Michigan film department deepens its involvement with Traverse City Film Festival
07.14.10
Posted: Jul 14, 2010 at 11:18 AM [Yesterday]
Faculty members from the University of Michigan will serve as moderators, panelists and jurors at this year's sixth annual Traverse City Film Festival, happening July 27-August 1; and U-M's involvement with TCFF is expected to grow further.
"Since its inception, the Traverse City Film Festival has been a force in showing the international film industry the possibilities for filmmaking in the state of Michigan," said Lee Doyle, director of U-M's Film Office (which aims to attract filmmakers to campus), in a press release. "With the university's formal participation, we can set our sights on providing a 'gateway experience' to our students, and foster the further development of the state's fledgling film industry."
The festival, held in downtown Traverse City, has gained a reputation for attracting high quality independent films. While providing a venue for the appreciation of new and classic films, the festival is also a magnet to attract producers from around the world to Michigan.
Since the enactment of the state's tax incentive program, Michigan has drawn film production companies from around the country. In the last two years, eight feature films have been shot on the U-M campus and greater Ann Arbor.
"Along with realizing our goal of becoming a major international film festival, we now can draw on the educational support of the University of Michigan to lend its expertise to our educational initiatives," said TCFF founder and Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore in a press release. "We celebrate great filmmaking, but also want to offer opportunities for the general public to deepen its appreciation of film."
This year, U-M faculty and film experts will provide extensive assistance in the judging of the more than 100 films. In addition, the university's faculty in film criticism, literature and drama will spearhead panel discussions examining how to critically understand film and assess latest trends in filmmaking.
Faculty will teach seminars on screenwriting and acting for film at the festival's on-location film school, which is open to the public. The brainchild of Moore, the film school aims to teach the fundamentals of film to people of all ages, and outside traditional educational settings.
In upcoming years, U-M will assist in an international student short film competition and faculty will be on hand to teach at a film camp for fledgling young filmmakers. Last year, university film students produced two short films that premiered at the festival, and professor/screenwriter Jim Burnstein, who heads U-M's screenwriting program, presented seminars on the craft during the festival. He will be on hand again this year to teach the popular course.
Participation of U-M faculty is made possible by a grant from the Miller Canfield law firm.
Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.
