Traverse City Record-Eagle

2008 Traverse City Film Festival

June 4, 2008

Madonna Film Fest tickets on sale Saturday

TRAVERSE CITY — 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.

Tickets are $25 and will be available at the box office only — no tickets will be sold online or over the telephone — beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are limited to two per person.

Madonna is scheduled to appear at the fourth annual Traverse City Film Festival on Aug. 2 at the State Theatre to introduce her film, "I Am Because We Are," a new documentary she wrote, produced, and narrated.

The film is Madonna's personal journey and meditation about the African country of Malawi. The documentary has been described as "searing," "thoughtful," and "powerful," and features Bishop Desmund Tutu, President Bill Clinton, and author/activist Jeffrey Sachs.

Details about the Madonna film and appearance can be found on the festival's Web site at www.traversecityfilmfest.org.

Half of the theater's seats will be sold to the public. The other half of the tickets will be sold by lottery to members of the Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival. Anyone can join the Friends, and those interested must do so by June 12 in order to qualify for the lottery drawing.

People can become Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival online at the Web site or in person at the State Theatre box office.

Friends who would like to purchase up to two tickets to the Madonna appearance and film must send a postcard to TCFF Lottery, PO Box 4064, Traverse City, 49685. Postcards must be received by 5 p.m. on June 12 and postcards also may be dropped off at the State Theatre box office that day by 5 p.m.

Information on the postcard should include name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, and number of tickets desired (maximum two). The drawing will be held June 13 and winners will be notified by e-mail or phone.

"I know things are going to be a bit crazy on Saturday," said Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, film festival founder. "We are honored to have Madonna coming here to our small town, and the city leaders have cooperated with us so that all goes well."

This year's Traverse City Film Festival will run from July 29 to Aug. 3. The full lineup of movies will be announced in early July, with tickets going on sale shortly thereafter.

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  • Film Festival Outtakes: 08/04/2008

    Sights and sounds from the Film Festival.

    Continued ...
    Aug 4, 2008 12:00 pm
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Aug 4, 2008 11:53 am
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Aug 4, 2008 11:48 am
  • Roll the Credits: Film Festival wraps up
    surprise1

    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.

    Continued ...
    Aug 3, 2008 10:46 pm 3 Photos
  • 10:18 p.m.: Festival award winners announced

    Winners of the jury awards from the 2008 Traverse City Film Festival have been announced.

    Continued ...
    Aug 3, 2008 10:31 pm
  • Saturday, August 2, 2008
  • Crowd rewarded with wave from Madonna
    Madonna Traverse City Film Festival

    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 3, 2008 10:00 am 3 Photos
  • Madonna: film was 'journey of lifetime'
    Madonna Traverse City Film Festival

    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."

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 3, 2008 10:01 am 3 Photos
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 3, 2008 10:01 am
  • Sunday's Film Festival schedule

    Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 3, 2008 10:01 am
  • Traverse City welcomes megastar Madonna
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    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.

    Continued ...
    Aug 2, 2008 9:51 am 2 Photos
  • Friday, August 1, 2008
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 2, 2008 9:31 am
  • Donahue panel takes a political turn
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    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 2, 2008 9:31 am 1 Photo
  • Businesses help set tone for festival
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    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 2, 2008 9:31 am 1 Photo
  • Saturday's Film Festival schedule

    Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 2, 2008 9:31 am
  • Film Festival Outtakes: 08/02/2008

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 2, 2008 9:32 am
  • Friday's Film Festival schedule

    Traverse City Film Festival schedule for Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.

    Continued ...
    Aug 1, 2008 9:02 am
  • Thursday, July 31, 2008
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 9:56 am
  • 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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 9:57 am
  • Son chronicles father's persecution
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    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 9:57 am 1 Photo
  • Festival-goers snatch up T-shirts
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    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 9:57 am 1 Photo
  • Film Festival Outtakes: 08/01/2008

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 9:57 am
  • Review: 'Man on Wire' is a wild ride
    Man on a Wire

    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.

    Continued ...
    Updated Aug 1, 2008 10:01 am 1 Photo
  • Film Festival lets kids in on the act
    workshop

    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.

    Continued ...
    Jul 31, 2008 9:05 am 2 Photos
  • Film documents 'real-life' Spinal Tap
    anvil

    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.

    Continued ...
    Jul 31, 2008 9:04 am 1 Photo
  • Wednesday, July 30, 2008
  • 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."

    Continued ...
    Jul 30, 2008 9:59 pm