Thunder Bay International Film Festival celebrates Great Lakes, Great Films
Print
EmailMichigan students and Sea Grant educators join other filmmakers this year in exploring Great Lakes issues and ocean topics during the Thunder Bay International Film Festival.
The seventh annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival (TBIFF) in Alpena, Mich., offers an opportunity to explore and celebrate our valuable Great Lakes and oceans through film. The festival takes place Wednesday through Sunday (Jan. 23-27, 2019) and is hosted by Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in partnership with the International Ocean Film Festival.
More than 50 films will be featured from around the world exploring ocean and Great Lakes issues and more. Student films will be featured during the TBIFF’s 4th Annual Student Film Competition, and new this year Sea Grant programs from around the Great Lakes will share films highlighting programs, research and education happening in, around and for our Great Lakes.
Student film session is free
The Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network and partnership, the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Michigan Sea Grant, and other partners sponsor the student competition to inspire young filmmakers – and to promote deeper understanding of Great Lakes and ocean issues. The 2019 stewardship theme and film challenge was #Exploration is and nearly 50 films (grades K-12) were submitted. The top ranked student films will be shown 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, followed by a filmmakers’ panel discussion. This portion of the festival is free and open to the public.
For the Film Festival, many showings and events will be at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in downtown Alpena. Films also will be shown at the Rogers City Theatre in Rogers City (Wednesday, Jan. 24) and the Alcona County Library in Harrisville. (Thursday, Jan. 25).
Shutdown won’t stop show
Alpena Community College’s Granum Theatre and adjacent facilities will serve as a contingency location if the federal government shutdown is not resolved by January 24. If the federal government reopens prior to that date, the Film Festival will be held at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in downtown Alpena.
Michigan Sea Grant, along with other Great Lakes state programs will share a variety of educational films exploring Great Lakes issues and topics. The different Sea Grant programs are sharing 16 films developed to connect and engage citizens and stakeholders in important and emerging issues. This Sea Grant film feature will show on Saturday (Jan 26).
Tickets are $30 for the Friday reception and films. Most daily film sessions are $6 program ($15 for 6 p.m. Saturday). The filmmakers panel and student films take place 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and are free. A full festival pass (Thunder Pass) also can be purchased. Call (989) 884-6200 or visit thunderbayfriends.org to order your tickets. Tickets are also available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis during the festival
Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research and outreach. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 33 university-based programs.
This report was prepared by MSU under award NA14OAR4170070 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Regents of the University of Michigan. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce, or the Regents of the University of Michigan.
