The Ann Arbor Film Festival wrapped up less than a month ago…they’ve barely packed up their film reels. And already the Michigan Theater is prepping for yet another festival to open next month called Cinetopia.
This new, international festival will feature more traditional narrative film and documentaries, rather than the experimental films that dominate the Ann Arbor Film Fest.
Russ Collins is executive director of the Michigan Theater. He says this first Cinetopia festival will be a test run. They’ve got sponsors lined up, so now he says it’s a question of attendance:
"Is there enough interest in attending a film festival like this?" asks Collins. "We have rather modest goals, we hope about 5,000 people come."
If there’s enough interest, Cinetopia could become an annual festival.
He says the featured films are culled from festivals around the world – including Berlin, Toronto and Sundance.
"We can’t show all of the great films that are out there, and some of them never make it out of the festival circuit. So having a festival format to screen these films in is beneficial."
Collins hopes to see it rival in size film festivals in Toronto, Berlin, Traverse City and Cleveland.
More than 30 films will be shown at the festival, which runs May 31 - June 3, 2012. Tickets for each screening cost $15.
