The 47th Ann Arbor Film Festival energized our regional community with some of the year's most high-caliber, cutting-edge independent films. We saw record-setting attendance with nearly 12,000 people across the six day event - a 15% increase from 2008. During film festival week, creativity flowed literally onto the streets with sidewalk stencils, video installations around town, and the unveiling of a new art car courtesy of filmmaker Harrod Blank and Zack Jacobson-Weaver's crew ...

The 47th Ann Arbor Film Festival explores “the new world of independent cinema," beginning with the Opening Night Gala and screening Tuesday, March 24th! This year's Opening Night Gala takes place from 6:00 – 8:00pm in the Grand Foyer of the historic Michigan Theater. The celebration kicks off with live music from Los Gatos, open bar and catering from local favorites including Seva, Totoro Japanese Restaurant, eat catering & chef services, Morgan & York, Avalon Bread, Schakolad chocolates a...

The visionary founder of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, returns to our 47th edition for a lecture and screening. Thursday at 5:10pm Manupelli takes the stage as the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitor for a free public lecture and audience Q & A. This is followed by Manupelli's avant-garde masterpiece Cry Dr. Chicago, screening at 7:30pm.Filmmaker, painter, collagist, and activist George Manupelli is the founder of the Ann Arbor Film Festival. In 1963, while teaching at the UM School of Art & De...

The 47th Ann Arbor Film Festival explores “the new world of independent cinema," taking place March 24 - 29th. With 33 film screenings, daily free events, educational opportunities and multiple world premieres, adventure-seeking audiences will have ample opportunities to experience the full realm of independent cinema.This year's Opening Night Gala, Tuesday March 24th, takes place from 6 – 8pm in the Grand Foyer of the historic Michigan Theater. The festivities kick off with live music, open...

46th ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL TOURING PROGRAMDecember 17-18The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running experimental film festival in the country and one of the few that circulates the winning works. This year’s Festival Tour is comprised of two programs featuring 31 of the finest short films from the 46th Festival—personal, documentary, animated and narrative works by artists from throughout the country and the world. Together, they offer a singular snapshot of the state of independent...

The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival shone brightly last week with record attendance. Filmmakers descended on Ann Arbor from around the world, including Juan Camilo Gonzalez from Columbia premiering his animated film Los Tres Errantes, Jaehyung Ju from South Korea with his gorgeous experimental film Lucid Dreaming, and Maverick Litchfield-Kelly, producer of the suspenseful "i", visiting the U.S. for the first time from London, England. During his trip, Maverick posted his first blog ever - here's so...

Full Program Line-up Announcement for 46th Ann Arbor Film FestivalThis year "It's Time to Watch" the Ann Arbor Film Festival, taking place March 25 - 30th. With more than 36 film screenings, daily free events, live film-based performances and multiple world premieres, audiences will have ample opportunities to watch and be amazed this year.This year's extended Opening Night Gala, Tuesday March 25th takes place from 6 – 8pm in the glorious Grand Foyer of the Michigan Theater. Attendees will enj...

This is Christen McArdle, Executive Director of the AAFF. It’s the new year and I’m feeling edgy… because now I’m on the “hot seat”! It’s my turn to perform an Act of Audacity for our Endangered fundraising campaign. The past 6 weeks have been a landmark in the history of the AAFF: we scored a victory for free speech with our federal lawsuit, Variety magazine named us one of their “Ten Favorite Festivals” in the world, and our Endangered campaign has generated unprecedented su...

The oldest film festival in North America showcasing independent and experimental films, The Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) announced today that it has settled a federal lawsuit, filed by the ACLU on its behalf, against the State of Michigan. In exchange for the state legislature repealing unconstitutional restrictions on arts funding, the AAFF and ACLU agreed to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit. Since its founding in 1963, the festival has screened works by filmmakers like George Lucas, Yoko Ono...