by Dave Marsh
THE CINETOPIA International Film Festival features feature-length dramas, comedies, and documentaries from the world’s best film festivals (e.g. Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca, etc.). The festival will return for the third time in June 2014.
As was the case in previous years, the festival program is selected by a team that includes Michigan Theater Executive Director Russ Collins and the national “dean” of art house programming Elliot Wilhelm (from the Detroit Film Theatre).
During Cinetopia 2014, over 100 screenings of more than 45 films will be divided evenly between Ann Arbor and Detroit. The roster, which will be announced in early May, focuses on the best films from leading film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Cannes and SXSW.
Screenings will take place at the Detroit Film Theatre, which participated in the festival last year for the first time. Cinetopia is also adding sites in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Michigan Science Center and the nearby Cinema Detroit.
Ann Arbor locations will include the Michigan Theater, where the festival started, the State Theater, the University of Michigan Modern Languages Building and a rooftop theater.
In 2013, over 8,500 attendees viewed the 45 films shown at the second annual Cinetopia International Film Festival.Last year was the first time Cinetopia expanded into Detroit, where screenings took place at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ beautiful Detroit Film Theatre auditorium.
“There is obviously a lot of demand for something like this,” said attendee Martin Fischhoff. “People want to have a choice of dozens and dozens of independent and art-house movies.”
Co-organizer Russ Collins said in a 2013 interview, “If all goes well, we hope that in five years, Cinetopia will take place in five or so locations in the Detroit metropolitan area and that 50,000-80,000 people will attend the festival annually. But, let’s not get ahead or ourselves, we will be happy if 7,500 attend Cinetopia this year and very happy if around 10,000 attend. How much and how quickly it grows will be determined by Detroit area film lovers and sponsorship support.”
Cinetopia honors the heritage of cinematic culture and Michigan’s legacy of outstanding cinema artists through special pre- and post-film events, including presentations, discussion panels, and Q&A sessions with directors, writers, and stars.
After a successful expanded run in Detroit in June 2013, the Michigan Theater and Detroit Film Theatre announced on April 2 that the 2014 Cinetopia International Film Festival will grow to five days (June 4-8), add more Detroit venues, create new special programs, and bring in additional filmmakers for pre- and post-film events. Organizers hope that the three-year festival draws more than 20,000 attendees in 2014—more than double the number of attendees in 2013.
The newly launched Detroit Voices filmmaking competition, a partnership with Allied Media Project, will seek short films from metro Detroit filmmakers that reflect unique perspectives from the nation’s most unique city. The top winner will receive a $5,000 prize and have his/her film screened at Cinetopia.
The first-ever Cinema Circus program will bring a series of free outdoor movie screenings, music, and entertainment to public spaces around Detroit during the weeks leading up to Cinetopia. Venues include Eastern Market, the Ford Resource and Engagement Center, and New Center Park, among others.
The University of Michigan’s John Sayles Symposium on June 3-4 will honor maverick director John Sayles, who will be in attendance with several of his collaborators. Cinetopia will screen Sayles films and host post-film discussions in conjunction with the symposium.
Russ Collins says organizers hope to grow the festival “organically” so that audiences learn “how to festival” (how to happily dedicate the time and take programmatic risks).”
The Cinetopia Film Festival was able to expand its scope thanks to a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge, which funds projects that engage and enrich Detroit.
The Knight Foundation supports journalism, advance media innovation and the arts. The support of presenting sponsors AT&T Michigan, Toyota, and MASCO Corporation Foundation was also critical to financing the 2014 expansion.
Cinetopia tickets are slated to go on sale on Friday, May 9. Individual tickets are priced at $12 for the general public and $9 for DIA, DFT, Wright Museum, and Michigan Theater members. Ticket booklets and festival passes will also be available.
In May organizers will announce the full line-up of Cinetopia films.
About Cinetopia International Film Festival: Created for the people of southeastern Michigan, the Cinetopia International Film Festival features the best feature-length dramas, comedies, and documentaries from the world’s best film festivals, including Sundance, Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. Visit cinetopiafestival.org for more information.
Michigan Film Festivals
Michigan Student Film and Video Festival (April 26, 2014): For more than four decades, it’s provided a chance for young artists from kindergarten to 12th grade to show their media art. One of its alums, Dan Scanlon, just directed the Pixar smash “Monsters University.”
Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival (April 27-May 7, 2014): It offers a wide range of works that tackle historical subjects, address current political issues or entertain through the power of drama and comedy. It’s sponsored by West Bloomfield’s Jewish Community Center.
Cinetopia International Film Festival (June 4-8, 2014): Its program brings an eclectic mix of features and documentaries from top worldwide festivals to southeastern Michigan. This year, the Ann Arbor-based program expanded to include the Detroit Film Theatre as a venue.
Waterfront Film Festival (June 12-15, 2014): Since 1999, it’s been a highlight of the summer season in the Saugatuck region (although it moved last year to South Haven). The showcase for indie films has hosted standouts like the documentary “Man on Wire” and guests like actress Darryl Hannah.
Traverse City Film Festival (July 29-Aug. 3, 2014): Founded in 2005 by Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, this event has lured big-league participants like Madonna and Susan Sarandon and turns the Up North vacation spot into a kinder, gentler Cannes for one week.
A billboard for the 2013 Cinetopia film festival, outside the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival (October 2014): Placid Grand Rapids becomes very scary once a year for this celebration of the sci-fi, suspense and horror genre. It recently made MovieMaker magazine’s list of the top 20 horror/sci-fi film festivals.
Uptown Film Festival (November in 2014): The three-year-old happening, inspired by incentive-fueled local filming, takes place in Birmingham and includes the Michigan Film Awards ceremony as part of its schedule.
Mitten Movie Project (first Tuesday of every month): It’s described as a monthly festival, but this gathering at Royal Oak’s Main Art Theatre is also a networking opportunity and incubator for local independent artists that began in 2005. On any given month, it could be screening shorts, trailers, student films, cartoons or music videos.