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August 1, 2005That's a wrap for film fest'The Edukators,' 'Grizzly Man,' 'The Baxter' winByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Traverse City Film Festival founders gave their Grand Prize to "The Edukators" and "Grizzly Man," while the audience nod went to "The Baxter." The three films were among nine movies and directors singled out for prizes at the inaugural festival that ended Sunday. Festival founder and Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore handed out the awards - not statues or plaques but paper - before the fourth and final panel discussion at the City Opera House at 11 a.m. Sunday. It was among the highlights of a day that also included the American premiere of "Broken Flowers," and a closing reception at Trattoria Stella. Moore also offered Monty Python's "Life of Brian" - a film he said resides in his personal top 20 favorities - as the much-awaited "Mike's Surprise" Sunday capper to the fest. Moore called the British comedy troupe's spoof on followers an appropriate choice when considering a conservative group's competing Freedom FilmFest that popped up in the days leading to his festival. Moore also promised a return next year of the Traverse City Film Festival and said he'd work to keep the State Theatre open for a movie or two a month. "We'll always remember this first year being so raw and rinky-dink," said Moore, who planned the festival with about 30 others in nine weeks, using the slogan "Just great movies ... " The event, July 27-31, featured 31 movies, including nine premieres and four family classics. Moore and co-founder John Robert Williams estimated total attendance would top 19,000 at indoor venues and 20,000 outdoors. The fastest sellouts were "Mondovino," "A Good Woman, "Grizzly Man," "The Edukators" and "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," festival officials said. Only two films were not sellouts or near sellouts. "It's way beyond our expectations," Moore said. "We thought if we (sold) a third to half we'd be in good shape." Even as organizers - some of whom had as little as four hours of sleep a night during the festival - dismantled their headquarters, audiences looked forward to next year's event. Many had suggestions for improving it, from moving its date to offering more logo items. "I've had people ask me for bumper stickers, magnets and pens, different sizes of posters," said merchandise volunteer Emily Dayton, adding that those who attended the festival were eager to advertise it by buying T-shirts, hats and posters. Mic Stankiewicz and Patty Williamson drove to Traverse City for the festival Friday and managed to squeeze in three films and a discussion panel before heading home Sunday. They said they almost didn't come because of the cost and availability of hotels in July. "Maybe if it wasn't at the height of tourist season when everything is so expensive here," said Williamson, 35, of Mount Pleasant. "Maybe if it was in September or sometime in the fall." But many festival-goers are summer residents or regular vacationers in the area who say they appreciate having one more fun thing to do here, said box office volunteers Rosanne and Mary Jo Fifarek. "We also heard, 'This is so nice because this is our usual time in Traverse City,'" Fifarek said. Record-Eagle staff writer Lindsay VanHulle contributed to this story.
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