Let‘s talk about film

Directors, actors & film industry insiders offer their insights in free panel discussions

This week’s Traverse City Film Festival will feature daily panel discussions with over 20 directors, writers, actors, and other members of the film industry along with festival co-founder Michael Moore. The panels will cover a range of topics, from the resurgence of comedies to the true face of the industry as seen from the inside.
The daily panel discussions will be held at 10 a.m. on August 1-6 in the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City. Free tickets will be distributed at the venue starting at 9 a.m. and will guarantee seating.

• On Tuesday, August 1, “What’s Up Hollywood” will feature panelists Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange”), Jeff Daniels (“The Squid and the Whale”), Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”), and Ari Emanuel (top Hollywood agent). Following Moore’s keynote address to ring in the festival panels, these Hollywood insiders will share an inside look at the movie industry.

• Wednesday, August 2 brings a discussion of “Dangerous Docs” to Traverse City with Malik Bader (“Street Thief”), Jan Harlan (“O Lucky Malcolm”), Josh Gilbert (a/k/a Tommy Chong), Sabina Guzzanti (“Viva Zapatero!”), and Michael Moore. The documentary filmmakers will discuss the growing popularity of the genre, and the risks being taken by ambitious directors.

• “Shooting War: You Say I-Raq, I Say I-Ran” is the topic of the Thursday, August 3 panel with Mani Haghighi (“Men at Work”), David O. Russell (“Three Kings”), Deborah Scranton and Zack Bazzi (“The War Tapes”). Directors and a veteran with firsthand war experience talk about the interest filmmakers have taken in making movies about the conflicts in the Middle East, and how those movies are impacting public perceptions.

• On Friday, August 4, panelists Lawrence Bender (“An Inconvenient Truth”), Mark Dornford May (“Son of Man”), Mani Haghighi (“Men at Work”) and Malcolm McDowell will host the discussion, “Is It Art? Is It Politics? Is There a Difference?” about the public’s response to some of the most successful political documentaries in recent years.

• “Who needs a Good Laugh?” is the Saturday, August 5 panel, when top comedy directors and producers will talk about the resurgence of the genre, and surely get the audience laughing. Panelists include Larry Charles (“Borat”), Jeff Garlin (“I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With”), Jake Kasdan (“The TV Set”), and Sabina Guzzanti.

• The festival panels will wrap up on Sunday, August 6 with “The Genius of Stanley Kubrick,” featuring panelists Malcolm McDowell, Matthew Modine (“Full Metal Jacket”), and Jan Harlan (Kubrick’s Executive Producer). As part of the festival tribute to the work of Stanley Kubrick, these panelists will offer an inside glimpse at the methods of one of the greatest directors in history.

Others industry notables attending the festival include Yellow Thunder Woman, Dan Crane (Bjorn Turoque), Robin Davey, David Jung (a.k.a. C. Diddy), Alexandra Lipsitz, John Lyons, and Gail Maurice. For additional info, check out traversecityfilmfestival.org, visit the State Theatre box office in downtown Traverse City, or call 231-929-1506.
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