Community Corner
5 Things About the Uptown Film Festival 2013
Last year's Uptown Film Festival drew more than 5,000 people to downtown Birmingham for three days, and organizers anticipate more this weekend.
Celebrate Michigan’s film industry at the third annual Uptown Film Festival, which opens in Birmingham Thursday. The festival started in 2011 to honor pictures partially or fully produced in Michigan, and draws film buffs, filmmakers and future artists to downtown Birmingham for three days. The festival will wrap up Saturday with the annual Michigan Film Awards.
The festival is sponsored by Oakland County, Motor City Casino-Hotel, Delta Airlines, the Michigan Film Office, and the City of Birmingham. It is hosted in partnership by Mediascape Interactive Media, Kinetic Media Solutions, Bottom Line Entertainment, Hertz Schram PC, Uptown Entertainment and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Here are five things to know:
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Making a Debut
The festival marks the world, Michigan and Metro Detroit premieres of several films, including: Los Wild Ones, produced by Detroit-area native Jessica Golden; Men at Work: Voices from Detroit’s Underground Economy by University of Michigan-Dearborn professor, H. James Gilmore; and Guest House, the latest from filmmaker Aaron Wolf.
Honoring a Legend
The Uptown Film Festival Board of Directors announced this week that they will issue the first-ever Michigan Film Awards (MFA) Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to acclaimed author Elmore Leonard. Leonard, a long-time resident of Birmingham and Bloomfield Township, died in August from complications of a stroke."His contributions to the film industry were as noted as his legendary career as a novelist. For his incomparable writing style, creativity and continued support of filmmaking, Leonard is the inaugural recipient," the board stated on the festival's Facebook page. The award ceremony is Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
Not Done Yet
Michigan's film industry, once lauded for spurring local economic activity, is now in a much different position than when the Uptown Film Festival launched in the midst of uncapped tax incentives for studios. It may not generate the near billion dollars in revenues once thought, but the industry is still alive and churning out talent, festival organizers said.
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“The face of the film industry in Michigan has undoubtedly changed in the past few years,” Festival Co-Executive Director, Jeffrey Spilman said in a news release. “That, however, has not stopped us from working to raise awareness and garner support for the industry, the festival itself and the resources it aims to provide bourgeoning filmmakers in Michigan and beyond.”
Film Spotlight: "Approaching Midnight"
Director Sam Logan Khaleghi presents a gripping action-crime-drama that follows a young soldier's return home to a small town after being wounded in Afghanistan. Coping with the tragic death of his girlfriend, he begins to uncover a web of mysterious circumstances and possible corruption and greed that appears to lead to her father, who's running for governor.
You just might recognize some of downtown Birmingham in some of the shots, including the corners of Maple and Old Woodward, specifically. See the official trailer, and take in the screening at 7 p.m. Friday at the Birmingham 8.
If You Go
Festival passes are now available for purchase online at varying levels including a $150 VIP Pass that provides access to all films, panels, parties and a VIP Gala Reception. A $75 Cinema Pass provides access to all non-VIP festival screenings and the Michigan Film Awards and reception. Tickets for individual film screenings are also available and include seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit the festival website for more information.
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