Independent filmmakers and film aficionados descend on Saugatuck this weekend to a film event touted as one of the world’s top five, and filmgoers will not be disappointed with options that include small local documentaries and big-money films slated to be box office hits.
According to excerpts from the story:
Two weeks past Memorial Day and with kids barely out of school for summer, the second weekend in June once meant slack tourism in Saugatuck.
That changed in 1999 when the Waterfront Film Festival was launched as a way to bring independent films to the summer resort community on the west side of the state.
A decade later, the fest has not only given a boost to the local economy but remains the destination of choice for independent filmmakers looking for a laid-back atmosphere to roll out new work. "They're not worried about the competitive nature of a Sundance or Tribeca," says festival cofounder Kori Eldean. "They can wear flip-flops and show these movies to a fantastic and receptive crowd."
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