Known for its year-round film arts programming, the
Grand Rapids Film Festival (GRFF) once a year invites film fans to gather for a film festival that is unlike any other cinematic offering in our community.
For starters, while it is a festival devoted to all things film, the organizers invite the public to intersect with this unique art form via three distinct programming entry points.
On Thursday, they invite the public to join them at Notos Old World Italian Dining (6600 28th St SE, Cascade) for a
special film edition of PechaKucha -- a lively and fast-paced presentation where area personalities have to tell a story with 20 slides that each are on the screen for just 20 seconds.
Scheduled to appear at this special festival kick-off night of PechaKucha are Virginia Anzengruber, Lisa Enos, Shane Hagedorn, Sloan Inns, Michael McCallum, Lucas Miles, Bret Miller, Julian Newman, Tom Norton, John Otterbacher, John Harper Philbin, and Ella Swift. Each of these speakers will address the theme of how film has transformed their lives.
On Friday is a chance to see how the art of fashion and film intersect during a special night titled
“Fashion & Music for Film Showcase” (F&M).
Featured at F&M is designer Sonja Millie from Belgrade, Serbia who will guide six students from Kendall College of Art and Design through a fascinating insider’s perspective on the process where the artful beauty and innovative design of fashion is merged with the music video industry.
This event has that late night festival party feeling complete with screenings of music videos and short films, a live fashion show, and DJ dance party.
Finally, on Saturday comes a day-long film viewing event where films culled from the more than 100 submissions entered this year will be screened at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy St. SE).
In keeping with the organizers’ mission to provide a diverse festival experience, attendees have two distinct paths they can follow.For 2017, GRFF films fall into two categories: quality entertainment and transformative.
From these two headings are a combined total of 28 films with filmmakers from 14 of these films making an appearance at GRFF on Saturday.
For a complete list of films screening this year, along with which films will have guest appearances, please visit the festival’s website
here.
For tickets to all the events listed here, please visit
the site for details.