Arts & Entertainment
Dates Set for Birmingham's Uptown Film Festival
Two-day event to celebrate Michigan-made films is set for March 11-12 with five feature films to premiere and parties and awards to enjoy.
A little bit of Hollywood will be coming to Birmingham, with the dates for the first Uptown Film Festival set for March 11-12.
The festival is a celebration of films made partly or entirely in Michigan. Films will be screened at the and the during the two-day festival. Five feature films will premiere during the festival, including Kill the Irishman, starring Christopher Walken, Val Kilmer and Fray Stevenson, and Things Fall Apart starring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Ray Liotta.
Jeffrey Spilman, the festival’s Bloomfield Hills-based founder and co-executive director, first imagined the festival more than a year ago.
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“I began pondering the landscape of Michigan and filming in Michigan,” said Spilman, founder and managing partner of , a film and episodic television production company in Ferndale. “I wanted to celebrate Michigan’s developing film industry, so I pulled together a group of people, including the folks from Uptown Entertainment and (the) Oakland County Economic Development (department) to establish a mission for a film festival.”
Ultimately, that mission became celebrating Michigan films, Michigan filmmakers and the job creation fueled by the state’s burgeoning film industry.
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“Unlike many other film festivals aimed at selling films, the (Uptown Film Festival) is about putting a public face on the film industry,” Spilman said. “The public knows films are made here but not necessarily what those films are.”
Spilman and his team began by selecting Birmingham for the festival’s home.
“We wanted people to walk out after viewing a movie and be surrounded by retailers, cafes and coffeehouses,” Spilman said. “We wanted to make this an experience and Birmingham offers that.”
Spilman hopes the festival will benefit the Birmingham economy. “Hopefully people will spend money around town while they’re here for the festival,” he said.
Laura Bayoff-Elkins is the director of marketing for Uptown Entertainment—which runs the Birmingham 8 and Palladium—and, working alongside Spilman, helped bring the Uptown Film Festival to life.
“This time of year is quiet in the film world, so the timing seemed right,” she said. “We’re excited to see the festival come to fruition after more than a year of planning.”
The festival will also coincide with the Michigan Film Awards Show, which will be held in conjunction with the Detroit Independent Film Festival the evening of March 12 at the Palladium. Awards will be given to filmmakers in a number of categories as judged by industry professionals. Fox 2 News’ Lee Thomas will emcee the event.
On the morning of March 12, the festival will also host a panel discussion for Michigan filmmakers and others interested in being involved in the Michigan film industry.
“The discussion will focus on steps these individuals can take to make their dream happen,” Spilman said. Included on the panel will be Spilman himself; Carrie Jones, director of the Michigan Film Office, and possibly a local entertainment lawyer and productions auditor.
The public is invited to take in as many films they like during the festival, Spilman said. Packages are available, including the $150 VIP package, which provides festivalgoers unlimited admission to film screenings, the opening gala, the two major film premieres, the Michigan Film Awards Show and an afterglow party.
The $50 event package provides unlimited admission to film screenings, with the exception of Kill the Irishman and Things Fall Apart, and the Michigan Film Awards Show. General admission is open to individuals for a single show for $10 per person.
Lori Ervin of Bloomfield Township frequently takes in movies at the Birmingham 8 and Palladium 12 and is enthusiastic about the upcoming film festival. "I'd love to go and support films made here in Michigan. I remember watching Gran Torino in the theater and staying to watch the credits to see the 'Made in Michigan' mention. Everyone in the theather clapped. It was great to see."
More information on events and ticket packages are available at http://uptownfilmfestival.com/eventGuide.php. VIP passes and tickets can be purchased online at www.uptownfilmfestival.com.
