Immerse yourself in fresh new films at the TBIFF
Courtesy Photo In the above photo taken by Mark Fletcher, a diver is seen with a large whale. For more like this, attend the Great Lakes Gala Reception and Films at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 to view “Patrick and the Whale.”
Courtesy Photo Viewers are seen in the main theater at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena.
Courtesy Photo In the above photo taken by Mark Fletcher, a diver is seen with a large whale. For more like this, attend the Great Lakes Gala Reception and Films at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 to view “Patrick and the Whale.”
Courtesy Photo Viewers are seen in the main theater at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena.
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ALPENA -- To escape the bleak Northeast Michigan winter, step inside the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for a world of water wonder at the 2024 Thunder Bay International Film Festival.
This year's festival will be held in-person Jan. 24 through 28, with TBIFF on the Road showings in Rogers City on Jan. 24, Harrisville on Jan. 25, and the main festival taking place Jan. 26 through 28 at the GLMHC in Alpena.
New films will be shown this year, ranging from two minutes to 98 minutes in length, featuring Great Lakes and ocean-themed topics such as jellyfish, storm chasing, scuba diving, whales, coral forests, horseshoe crabs, shipwrecks, seagrass, sharks, barnacles, frogs, and much more.
"The sanctuary's film festival is a great place to connect to our blue planet," said Stephanie Gandulla, resource protection coordinator for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, based in Alpena at the GLMHC. "What's exciting is if you've been before, you'll want to come again, because there's always new and fresh content."
The TBIFF is presented in partnership with the International Ocean Film Festival.
"It's a great place to learn about the issues facing our planet, and our ocean and Great Lakes," Gandulla added. "It's also an opportunity to celebrate our ocean and Great Lakes."
She said the films cover a wide range of topics from science to adventure.
"There are topics ranging from pretty intense science films to … individual shark species, sailing adventures, scuba diving adventures," she added. "It's definitely not boring."
"It's not just environmental based, it's also recreation, surfing and paddle boarding," said Cassandra Sadler, resource protection specialist for TBNMS.
"And some of the best cinematography that you'll find anywhere," Gandulla added. "Truly the latest and best in ocean filmmaking."
"In the world," Sadler said. "It's international."
Gandulla added, "A lot of these films you can't see anywhere else."
An all-inclusive Thunder Pass gets you in to all films and events during the TBIFF, for $125 per person. You can also pick and choose which sessions to attend, which each include several short films and either one feature-length film or two medium-length films.
Most sessions are $10 each, but the Great Lakes Gala Reception and Films at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 costs $30 per person because it includes appetizers and a cash bar as well as the films and a live discussion.
The Sanctuary Selections professional film competition, in partnership with The Sunset Project, will be a new addition this year, with the top five films being featured. The program will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, featuring screenings, hors d'oeuvres, live discussions, and the final award presentation. The cost to attend the Sanctuary Selections program is $20 per person.
Several free programs are also offered and open to the public, including the TBIFF Student Film Competition and awards at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. Students were asked to make short films using the prompt, "Life in the Great Lakes."
"Life in the Great Lakes means something different to everyone and we are excited to see each student or student groups' interpretation," said Meag Schwartz, network coordinator for Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. "There will be prizes for selected winning films and an opportunity for the crowd to vote for the People's Choice Award, so be sure to be there for the free screening of selected films."
In addition, a free filmmakers' panel with industry professionals will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, with some of the filmmakers traveling to Alpena from overseas.
For tickets and to view the full TBIFF film schedule, visit thunderbayfriends.org. Call 989-884-6200 if you have questions.
The GLMHC is located at 500 W. Fletcher St.
Prior to the TBIFF, area students will get a sampling of ocean and Great Lakes films brought into their classrooms Jan. 9 through 12 and Jan. 16 through 19. Forty minutes of films will be shown, followed by discussion.
"It's important content," Gandulla said. "It's really the latest issues in science and climate change and overfishing, and all those things that these students aren't going to see anywhere else, so we really like taking it to the schools. This year, we're hoping to reach 500 students."
Classes can also sign up to view the films in the theater at the GLMHC. To sign up for the Student Sneak Peek, contact daniel.moffatt@noaa.gov or 989-590-1297.