Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival is now mecca for movie fans

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http://www.freep.com/article/20090726/ENT01/907260320/Traverse-City-film-fest-is-mecca-for-movie-fans

Traverse City Film Festival is mecca for movie fans
Michael Moore's choices make the State Theatre a box-office champ
BY JOHN MONAGHAN • FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER • JULY 26, 2009


Michael Moore is facing an Oct. 2 release date for his new movie, but on a cool morning last week, the 55-year-old filmmaker was more focused on a water dish he had placed in front of downtown Traverse City's State Theatre, the main stage for the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival.

"It's working," he said from his vantage point inside the theater as a thirsty pooch paused at the dish, which was surrounded by glamour photos of famous canine movie stars like Lassie and Toto from "The Wizard of Oz." The dog's walkers stopped to gaze at a festival flyer and the marquee advertising the day's big attraction.

No detail at the State -- not even dog dishes -- escapes Moore's scrutiny, and his attention to little things has paid off. In just a few years, the 527-seat nonprofit theater has become invaluable to both the Michigan film landscape and the Traverse City economy.

Before the historic theater was resurrected for the first film festival in 2005, it was a long-shuttered hulk with bleak prospects. Last year, the festival attracted nearly 80,000 paid admissions, and the State, which is open all year and regularly shows offbeat movies handpicked by Moore, is earning record grosses that have stunned film distributors.

Neighboring businesses routinely benefit from the theater. Two doors down, Horizon Books manager Gary Wolf credits it with helping him maintain his 11 p.m. closing time, especially during the non-summer months. Sweet Ginger, an Asian restaurant next door, sells plenty of discount movie-and-dinner gift cards and is preparing to cater sushi for an upcoming film festival soirée.

The success of the theater surprises everyone but Moore.

"On one side of town up here, we've got a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. On the other is a course designed by Arnold Palmer," he says. "Golfers design golf courses. Who better than a filmmaker to decide how movies should be shown to the public?"

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