Traverse City Film Festival


The Traverse City Film Festival is an annual film festival held at the end of July in Traverse City, Michigan. The festival was created as an annual event in 2005 to help “save one of America's few indigenous art forms—the cinema." The event was co-founded by Michael Moore, the Oscar-winning film director, well known for his anti-establishment films and documentaries such as Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, and Roger & Me, along with author Doug Stanton and photographer John Robert Williams.
The mission of the Festival is to show "Just Great Movies" that represent excellence in filmmaking, particularly those rare independent films and documentaries by both noted and new filmmakers, that do not receive mainstream distribution.
The Traverse City Film Festival is a non-profit organization, and is funded by businesses, community groups and individuals, in addition to ticket sales accumulated by various events. The Festival is headed by a board of directors of filmmakers, writers, and creative professionals. Traverse City Film Festival also showcases all volunteer music, with over 60 regional artists featured in the 2016 event.

Official selections

2005

The 1st annual Traverse City Film Festival was held July 27–31, 2005. The 5-day event featured many independent films, plus four classic films. The independent films were shown in three indoor venues in downtown Traverse City: the State Theatre, the Old Town Playhouse, and the City Opera House. In addition, each night, a classic film was shown on a giant inflatable screen along West Grand Traverse Bay in the city's Open Space Park. Broken Flowers, a winner at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, was shown at the Traverse City Film Festival before being released to the general public. Other 2005 Traverse City Film Festival selections covered a gamut of film subjects ranging from period romances, unemployment, terrorism, among many other subjects.
Free Movies at the Open Space:'
The second annual Traverse City Film Festival was held July 31 – August 6, 2006. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Jeff Daniels.
Stanley Kubrick Tribute:
Free Movies at the Open Space:'
The third annual festival was held July 31 – August 5, 2007. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Christine Lahti.
Free Movies at the Open Space:
The fourth annual festival took place July 29 – August 3, 2008. There was a special appearance by Madonna, on August 2, 2008, in order to introduce her film I Am Because We Are. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Kurt Luedtke. Also this year was the world premiere for Religulous.
Free Movies at the Open Space:
The fifth annual festival was held from July 28 – August 2, 2009. There were 123 screenings of films from over 30 countries. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Rich Brauer.
Free Movies at the Open Space:
The sixth annual festival was held from July 27 – August 1, 2010. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to John Hughes.
Opening and Closing Night:
TCFF 3D:
Comedy & Drama from Home and Abroad:
  • Apart Together
  • A Brand New Life
  • Castaway on the Moon — Best Original Vision, Fiction Jury Award
  • Cherry
  • Cherry Blossoms
  • The Concert — Best Fiction Film, Audience Award
  • Farsan — Fiction Jury Prize for Breakthrough Performance
  • The French Kissers
  • The Happy Poet — Fiction Jury Prize for Emerging Talent
  • Heartbreaker
  • In the Beginning — Best Film, Fiction Jury Award
  • The Infidel
  • Lebanon, PA — Founders Prize, Fiction Award
  • Legacy
  • The Man Next Door
  • Me and Orson Welles
  • Mid-August Lunch — Best Debut Feature, Fiction Jury Award
  • Please Give
  • The Secret in Their Eyes
  • Solitary Man
  • Tiny Furniture — Fiction Jury Prize for Emerging Talent
  • The Trotsky
  • Welcome
  • When We Leave
  • Will You Marry Us? — Top Founders Prize
The Beatles at the Movies :
  • A Hard Day's Night
  • Help!
  • Nowhere Boy
A Salute to Cuban Film:
  • Dreaming in Blue
  • Horn of Plenty
  • Strawberry and Chocolate
  • Viva Cuba
Shorts Programs:
Dangerous Docs:
Midnight:
  • Clash
  • Tucker & Dale vs Evil
  • Zonad
Special Screenings:
  • This Divided State - Mike's Surprise
  • Dodsworth: Jeff Garlin's Gems
  • Reel Injun Spirit Award, Nonfiction Jury Award/Special Founders Prize
  • The Last Command
Kids Fest:
  • The Secret of Kells
  • Kirikou and the Sorceress
  • Oblivion Island
  • Eleanor's Secret
Free Movies at the Open Space:'
The seventh annual festival was held from July 26–31, 2011. There were films at the festival this year from every continent except Antarctica. This was also the first year of Kids Fest on the lawn outside of the newly renovated Lars Hockstad auditorium. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Sue Marx.
Opening and Closing Night:
US Indies:
New Foreign Cinema:
State Theatre Centennial Celebration:
50th Anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird:
Union! Our Salute to Public Employees:
100th Birthday Celebration of Roy Rogers:
  • Don't Fence Me In
  • Under Western Stars — Founders Prize for Best Classic Film
Tribute to Jafar Panahi:
  • The White Balloon
Lost Gems:
  • The Front
  • One, Two, Three
Special Screenings:
Kids Fest:
Dangerous Docs:
Experimental Film:
  • Antoine
  • Traces of a Diary
  • Vapor Trail
  • Visionaries
  • The White Meadows
Midnight:
  • Bellflower
  • Deadheads — Founders Prize for Best Horror Film
  • Rabies
  • Shorts for Midnight
  • Trollhunter
Kids Fest:
  • A Cat in Paris
  • Kooky
  • Mia and the Migoo
  • Shorts for Kids
  • Twigson
Shorts Programs:
  • Short Animation
  • Short Documentaries
  • Shorts by Students
  • Shorts by U of M Students
  • Shorts for Adults I
  • Shorts for Adults II
  • Shorts for Kids
  • Shorts for Midnight
Free Movies at the Open Space:'
The eighth annual festival was held from July 31 - August 5, 2012. Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Winsor McCay.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
Hollywood Sneak Previews:
Friends Only Screenings:
Susan Sarandon Tribute:
Wim Wenders Tribute:
State Theatre Centennial Celebration:
Occupy the Cinema!:
Women:
US Indies:
New Foreign Cinema:
Dangerous Docs:
Midnight:
Experimental Film at Dutmers:
  • Bestiaire
  • Indignados
  • Into Great Silence
  • An Oversimplification of Her Beauty
Special Screenings:
  • The Dictator — Special Screening
  • An Afternoon Stroll with Michael Moore — Mike's Surprise
  • Up Heartbreak Hill
  • The War of the Worlds
Kids Fest:
Shorts Programs:
Free Movies at the Open Space:
The ninth annual festival was held from July 30 - August 4, 2013. Paul Feig was honored with the Michigan Filmmaker Award and Michael Apted with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Liana Liberato received the Discovery Award and Mark Cousins, Rob Epstein, and Jeffrey Friedman received the Visionary Award. The Festival added a new venue this year by renovating the former Con Foster Museum into a theater that was named Bijou by the Bay which opened in time for the 2013 Traverse City Film Festival.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
Documentary:
American:
  • The East — Founders Prize for Best Drama
  • The English Teacher
  • Erased
  • Fruitvale Station — Audience Award Winner Best American Film
  • The Girl on the Train
  • Killing Them Softly
  • Lovelace
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • Orenthal: The Musical
  • The Pretty One
  • Sunlight Jr.
  • Trust — Audience Award Runner Up Best American Film
  • Trust Me
  • We're the Millers
State Theatre Centennial Celebration:
  • The Last Days of Pompeii
  • The Phantom of the Opera — with the Alloy Orchestra
Before the Code:
  • Gold Diggers of 1933
  • She Done Him Wrong
Michael Apted Tribute:
  • 56 Up
  • Up Series
Tribute to Paul Feig:
  • The Heat
Foreign:
  • Before Snowfall
  • The Broken Circle Breakdown
  • Bypass — Founders Prize for Best Comedy
  • Dancing Queen
  • Dragon
  • Fanie Fourie's Lobola
  • A Hijacking
  • Into the White — Audience Award Runner Up Best Foreign Film
  • Kon-Tiki — Founders Prize Special Award
  • The Last Days
  • No
  • A Royal Affair
  • Seven Psychopaths
  • Starbuck — Audience Award Winner Best Foreign Film
  • Superstar
  • Süskind
  • Wadjda — Roger Ebert Prize for Best Film by a First Time Filmmaker
  • Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
Midnight:
Experimental Film at Dutmers:
Special Screenings:
Kids Fest:
Friends Only Screenings:
TCFF Shorts:
Free Movies at the Open Space:
The tenth annual festival was held from July 29 - August 3, 2014. Barbara Kopple was honored this year with the Mid-Life Achievement Award. The Buzz and Movies on a Boat were added as venues.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
Documentary:
American:
State Theatre Centennial Celebration:
Special Screenings:
Kids Fest:
Free Movies at the Open Space:
Foreign:
  • The Bachelor Weekend
  • Black Coal, Thin Ice
  • Blind Dates
  • Blue Is the Warmest Colour
  • Child's Pose
  • Chinese Puzzle
  • A Coffee in Berlin
  • Excuse My French
  • Fishing Without Nets — Roger Ebert Prize for Best Film by a First Time Filmmaker
  • A Five Star Life
  • The German Doctor
  • The Gilded Cage
  • The Hunt — Audience Award Runner Up Best Foreign Film
  • I Won't Come Back
  • The Keeper of Lost Causes
  • The Lunchbox
  • Manos Sucias
  • Manuscripts Don't Burn
  • Omar — Founders Prize Best Drama
  • One Chance — Audience Award Winner Best Foreign Film
  • The Past
  • Playing Dead
  • Snowpiercer
  • Stations of the Cross — Stanley Kubrick Award For Bold and Innovative Filmmaking
  • Still Life
  • The Volcano — Founders Prize Best Comedy
Free Movies at the Buzz:
  • 10%: What Makes a Hero?
  • 12-12-12
  • 5 Broken Cameras
  • The Broken Circle Breakdown
  • Castaway on the Moon
  • The Edukators
  • Face to Face
  • Fishtail
  • Good Driver Smetana
  • The Hand That Feeds
  • Is the Man Who is Tall Happy?
  • Keep On Keepin’ On
  • La Maison de la Radio
  • The Lab
  • Men at Work
  • Please Vote for Me
  • Profit motive and the whispering wind
  • Storied Streets
  • Troubled Water
  • Web Junkie
  • West Bank Story
Midnight:
  • The Babadook
  • The Canal
  • Creep
  • Der Samurai
  • The Benson Movie Interruption: Road House
  • Zombeavers
Experimental Film at Dutmers:
  • Focus on Infinity
  • The Forgotten Space
  • Karpotrotter
  • Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border
Friends Only Screenings:
  • Divide in Concord
  • Human Capital
TCFF Shorts:'
The eleventh annual festival was held from July 28 - August 2, 2015. Robert Altman received the Visionary Award, Michigan Filmmaker Award went to Roger Corman, and Geraldine Chaplin received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Woz interactive gallery was a new addition this year.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
Documentary:
American:
State Theatre Centennial Celebration:
Native American Matinee:
Special Screenings:
Kid's Fest:
Foreign:
Midnight:
Friends Only Screenings:
Robert Altman Tribute:
Roger Corman:
Orson Welles Centennial:
  • F for Fake
  • Touch of Evil
Avant Garde:
  • Journey to the West - Buzz Wilson Prize for Best Avant-Garde Film
  • Mountain Spirits
  • The Owners
  • Speculation Nation
The Sidebar:
  • City of Gold
  • Good Things Await
  • King Georges
  • Sergio Herman, Fucking Perfect
Free Movies at the Open Space:
  • The Birdcage
  • The Breakfast Club — People's Choice Winner
  • Gravity
  • The Great Dictator
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • The Lego Movie
TCFF Shorts:'
The twelfth annual Traverse City Film Festival was held from July 26–31, 2016. This year’s festival celebrated the historic State Theatre’s centennial year and honored female filmmakers by featuring films directed by women for every selection in the Official US Documentary and Fiction sections.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
US Official Selection: Documentary:
US Official Selection: Narrative
  • The 33
  • Certain Women
  • The Diary of a Teenage Girl
  • Echo Park
  • Embers
  • Equity
  • Five Nights in Maine
  • Maggie’s Plan - Founders Prize Best US Fiction
  • My Blind Brother - Audience Award Winner for Best US Fiction
  • Operator - Roger Ebert Prize for Best US Fiction Film by a First Time Filmmaker
  • Women Who Kill
Foreign Official Selection: Documentary:
  • Censored Voices
  • Confusion
  • Cooking up a Tribute
  • Dark Horse
  • Disturbing the Peace - Founders Prize Best Foreign Documentary, Audience Award Winner for Best Foreign Documentary
  • Eat that Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
  • Elephant’s Dream
  • The Event
  • Francofonia
  • Heart of a Dog
  • Houston, We Have a Problem!
  • I Am Belfast - Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking
  • Ice and the Sky
  • Kings of Kallstadt - Roger Ebert Prize for Best US Fiction Film by a First Time Filmmaker
  • Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World
  • Magnus
  • Noma: My Perfect Storm
  • Presenting Princess Shaw
  • Reset
Foreign Official Selection: Narrative
  • 3000 Nights
  • Adult Life Skill
  • The Brand New Testament
  • The Club
  • A Conspiracy Of Faith
  • Dheepan
  • El Clasico - Founders Prize Best Foreign Fiction
  • The Last Reel - Founders Grand Prize Best Film
  • A Man Called Ove - Audience Award Winner for Best Foreign Fiction
  • Marguerite
  • Mustang
  • My Golden Days
  • My Internship in Canada
  • One Wild Moment
  • Parents
  • Sand Storm - Roger Ebert Prize for Best Foreign Fiction Film by a First Time Filmmaker
  • Sing Street
  • Son of Saul
  • Taxi - Founders Prize Special Award
  • Viva
  • Welcome to Norway
  • Women in Oversized Men’s Shirts
Avant Garde:
  • Elephant’s Dream - Buzz Wilson Prize for Best Avant Garde Film
  • The Event
  • Heart of a Dog
  • Sixty Six
  • Territorio
Free Movies at The Open Space:
  • Adam’s Rib
  • Frozen
  • Jurassic World
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Shrek - People's Choice Winner
  • Wayne’s World
Friends Only Screenings:
  • Midsummer in Newton
  • Sweet Smell of Spring
July 28, 2016- A Day in History:
  • The Doug Benson Movie Interruption: Kisses for my President
  • Live - Hillary Clinton Acceptance Speech
Kid's Fest:
  • Phantom Boy
  • Oddball - Stuart J. Hollander Prize for Best Kids Film
Lost Gems of 2015
  • Dope
  • Suffragette
Men Make Movies- The Struggle Continues
  • Command and Control
  • Folk Hero & Funny Guy - Men Make Movies Award
  • The Phenom - Men Make Movies Award
  • The Pistol Shrimps - Men Make Movies Award
  • Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru
Michiganders Make Movies:
  • Do Not Resist
  • Generation Startup
  • Men of Sparta
Midnight:
  • Here Alone
  • The Doug Benson Movie Interruption: A Donald Trump Favorite- Bloodsport
  • The Doug Benson Movie Interruption: Kisses For My President
Premieres:
  • Gleason
  • Hell or High Water
  • Little Boxes
  • Men of Sparta
  • Sister Cities
  • Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith
The Sidebar: Food on Film:
  • Cooking Up A Tribute
  • Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
  • Noma: My Perfect Storm
State Theatre Centennial Celebration
  • Blow Up
  • Chimes at Midnight
  • Citizen Kane
  • Civilization
  • Man with a Movie Camera
  • Meet John Doe
  • Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Special Screenings:
  • Doug Loves Movies Podcast
  • Native American Manitee: Te Ata
  • Where to Invade Next
#tween:
  • Dark Horse
  • Hunt for the Wilderpeople
  • Ice and the Sky
TCFF Shorts:'
The thirteenth annual Traverse City Film Festival was held from July 25–30, 2017. This year’s festival celebrated works from filmmakers all around the world, especially those from countries targeted by the US travel ban. 19 directors could not attend the festival due to the ban, but Skyped into festival screenings to discuss their work. Mariska Hargitay, Noel Wells, Leonard Maltin, and Gilbert Gottfried were added to TCFF Walk of Fame this year.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
US Official Selection: Documentary:
US Official Selection: Narrative
Foreign Official Selection: Documentary:
Foreign Official Selection: Narrative
Avant Garde:
Free Movies at The Open Space:
  • La La Land
  • Moana
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • '
  • Stop Making Sense
  • '
  • What About Bob?
Friends Only Screenings:
  • King of Peking
  • The Work
Travel Ban
  • Beats of the Antonov
  • City of Ghosts
  • Fishing Without Nets
  • Libya in Motion
  • A New Day in Old Sana'a
  • Nowhere to Hide
  • The Salesman
Student Screenings
  • MSU Presents: Stay With Me
  • CMU Presents: The Climb
Kid's Fest:
  • Into the Who Knows!
  • Revolting Rhymes
Midnight:
  • Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies
  • Doug Benson Movie Interruption: Starship Troopers
  • Raw
  • Vampire Cleanup Department
Premieres:
  • Gleason
  • Hell or High Water
  • Little Boxes
  • Men of Sparta
  • Sister Cities
  • Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith
The Sidebar: Food on Film:
  • Dinner in Abruzzo/Knife Skills
  • First Growth
  • New Chefs on the Block
  • Soul
  • Wasted! The Story of Food Waste
Special Screenings:
  • Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock
  • Cool Hand Luke
  • Doug Loves Movies
  • Mike's Surprise
  • Reservoir Dogs
  • Speedy with the Alloy Orchestra
  • To Be or Not to Be
#tween:
  • Fanny's Journey
  • My Life as a Zucchini
  • The Red Turtle
  • Swallows and Amazons
TCFF Shorts:
  • Shorts by MSU Students
  • Shorts by U-M Students
  • Shorts for All Kids
  • Shorts for Kids 4+
  • Best of Luck With the Wall
  • Commodity City
  • Cop Dog
  • Hot Winter: A Film By Dick Pierre
  • In a Nutshell
  • Iron Hands
  • Moom
  • All the World's A Stage
  • Fork in the Road
  • Inside Flint
  • Trip Abroad

    2018

The 14th annual Traverse City Film Festival was held from July 31 - August 5, 2018. [Jane Fonda, Dick Cavett, and Leon Vitali were added to TCFF Walk of Fame this year, and Nick Offerman was able to Skype in for the screening of Hearts Beat Loud. Jane Fonda received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The TCFF Student U program was launched this year.
Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings:
US Official Selection: Documentary
US Official Selection: Narrative
Foreign Official Selection: Narrative
Foreign Official Selection: Documentary
Free Movies at The Open Space:
Friends Only Screenings:
  • Amateurs
  • Skid Row Marathon
Student Screenings
  • MSU Presents: Crandies
  • Shorts by CMU Students
  • Shorts by MSU Students
  • Shorts by U-M Students
Kid's Fest:
Midnight:
Food on Film:
Special Screenings:
#tween:
TCFF Shorts Programs: