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Film festival set to entertain again

It’s time to roll out the red carpet in Alpena.

While it might not garner the prestige of the Cannes Film Festival in France or the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, the Thunder Bay International Film Festival has quite a following all its own and is attracting visitors from all over.

As snow blankets the ground and bodies of water freeze over across the region, every January over the past several years the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has brought to Northeast Michigan a wonderful variety of films that focus on oceans and the Great Lakes. The 40 films from around the world this year range from short segments to longer documentaries, and all are interesting and fascinating. And, since most have been filmed when there wasn’t snow on the ground, it reminds local residents that warmer weather and open water will be here again sooner rather than later.

By partnering with the San Francisco International Film Festival, it allows Thunder Bay organizers to bring to Michigan some unique examples of cinema that otherwise would never probably have found its way here.

In addition to the great films, I appreciate some of the other opportunities that also come with the festival, which begins Wednesday. For instance opening up an opportunity for students to participate in the festival, through creation of their own films, I think is genius. Can you imagine the excitement a student would have writing, filming and editing a film of his or her own!

Also, the aspect of taking the festival “on the road” for a night is interesting as well. Wednesday the residents of Presque Isle County will have the opportunity to view some of the films at the Rogers City Theatre from 6-9 p.m. The same is true Thursday in Alcona County, where the festival will be at the Alcona County Library in Harrisville from 6-9 p.m.

In Alpena events occur Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Heritage Center.

What can the public expect to see during the festival?

Well, how about the film “Fish Guts,” where biologists working on Lake Huron and Michigan examine the diets of trout, salmon and walleye to better understand why fish sizes vary from year to year.

Or what about a film on sea turtles, and a young girl’s dream to learn more about them? “My Haggen Dream” is a film that tells the story of sea turtles on Saipan in the western Pacific Ocean.

The truth is, whether it is “Borneo Shark Special” from Malaysia or the story of three men’s attempt to cross Lake Huron on paddle boards entitled “Crossing Lake Huron,” there is something of interest for everyone at the festival.

For more information, or to purchase tickets for the events, contact the Heritage Center or go to the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary website.

Bill Speer can be reached via email at bspeer@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 354-3111 ext. 331. Follow Bill on Twitter @billspeer13.

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