Traverse City Film Festival A highlight of the summer for both locals and vacationers, the Traverse City Film Festival brings a slew of great movies to town. Growing steadily since 2005, the Traverse City Film Festival has become one of the largest and one of the most respected film festivals in the nation. The festival showcases great movies that “entertain and enlighten the audience”, and enrich both “the human spirit and the art of filmmaking”. Screenings take place at venues as remarkable as the films, including the State Theater and the Open Space Park on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay. The festival focuses heavily on films that often get overlooked in our Hollywood-dominated market, specifically foreign films, American independents, and documentaries. The festival also features daily free panel discussions with directors, writers, actors, and other members of the film industry. For budding filmmakers an affordable film school runs twice daily throughout the festival. The 2014 Traverse City Film Festival runs from July 29 – August 3, 2014. Visit the Traverse City Film Festival website for more information.