Harvey Weinstein Backs Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Harvey Weinstein Backs Film Festival
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 28, 2006

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- Harvey Weinstein backed Michael Moore's hit documentary ''Fahrenheit 9/11.'' Now, the film mogul is backing Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.

Moore announced Friday that Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax Films, and former Republican Gov. William Milliken will serve as honorary co-chairs of a new community group called Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival.

''I'm honored to support this emerging and important film festival,'' Weinstein, an executive producer on ''Fahrenheit 9/11,'' said in a statement. ''What Michael and his team are doing to support independent filmmaking is not only critical but very much appreciated by cinema lovers everywhere.''

The aim of the friends group is to raise money for the event and ensure that the festival, which opens for its second annual run Monday, continues to flourish. It also will have three local co-chairs.

''I think that something is going to happen here in the way that something happened with Sundance (Film Festival) 25 plus years ago -- something that was very good for the industry and for independent movies,'' Moore told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-People-Moore-Film-Festival.html

[DemoTex]

1. May I say HOORAY!?

Eh?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. By all means -- Hooray! nt

[mom cat]

2. Great! A film fest for the prolls.

[krkaufman]

4. Well, not really. How many proles can get up to lovely Traverse City...

... for a film festival? How 'bout having one in Detroit or Gary, Cleveland or Kansas City?

[mom cat]

5. Gary would be great!

[JNelson6563]

6. Oh hey now!!

We get almost nothing cool here in the north! Leave us alone! We did a great job with the first festival and the next will be even better. Moore and his wife love it here because of it's natural beauty and it's laid back atmosphere. Come on up!

Julie

[krkaufman]

8. Indeed. I shall allow your Film Festival to continue. : )

Was just thinking it would be nice to have a Film Festival of, by and for the people someplace close to good numbers of regular people, rather than in the typical location: resort towns.

[JNelson6563]

7. It's actually a great event

lots of great movies that otherwise wouldn't be shown. Believe me, the exposure of culture is good for the kool-aid drinkers and we liberals get to enjoy some seriously good films.

Mad Hot Ballroom was the talk of the town last year after it played at festival. It was great. Oh yeah, and the event is good for our community's image and economy.

Julie