Visitors flock to Ann Arbor every year for special occasions – move in week, home football games, move out week, the Art Fairs and for the Ann Arbor Film Festival. The 63rd annual AAFF will screen in person this year from March 25 to 30, bringing creative film makers from all across the world to the Ann Arbor community. Toledo City Paper and Current Magazine are proud to be sponsors of this annual event.
Supporting filmmakers
AAFF Director Leslie Raymond explained that the AAFF is unusually supportive of the film makers, evidence by them paying filmmakers for showing their films in the Festival. “Typically, just other juried art competitions, you have to pay to get your entries in and
maybe you’ll get in the show, and you don’t get paid to be in the show. But more and more filmmakers are asking, ‘why can’t we get paid to show our films?’ so we made the decision to pay film rental fees for films to be shown at the Festival. Hopefully, with 63 years of history, and having the stature that AAFF has, other film festivals will do the same.” Each of the 120 selected films will be screened once during the Festival. The AAFF pays a rental fee to the filmmaker of $50 per short and $100 per feature film
The Festival’s recognition and prestigiousness is significant, especially for the indie film community. The eight feature length productions and 112 short films that will be screened this year were selected by employing a rigorous jury system to decide which of the 2,600-plus submissions that the Festival received this year will be screened.
The AAFF hosts specific nights, grouped by content, including LGBTQ films on Out Night starting at 9:30pm on March 27 and Animation Night on March 28. Kids are also welcome at the AAFF. The Almost All Ages program, beginning at 1:30pm on March 29, specifically focuses on what Raymon describes as “attention-span appropriate and content appropriate program for people six and up. But it’s still a program for experimental films.”
AAFF streaming option available
The pandemic forced the AAFF to go online to stream Festival entries in 2020 and 2021, but when it was safe to hold the Festival in person in 2022 the organizers retained the streaming option. An option you can take advantage of, from March 30 to April 13, without making the trip to Ann Arbor at aafilmfestival.org.
Out-of-theater experiences
And there are other off-theater options available for people who need a break from theater seats, or are interested in filmmaking networking and Festival history. These off-theater events are generally free. North Quad (105 S. State St., about 1.5 block walk)
New Voices Promising young talent from across the film world will be the center of attention at North Quad with free showings of films made by U of M students. Students will answer ques- tions about their work during a New Voices Film Jam from 10:30 am to noon on March 27.
North Quad will also host a Film Art Forum from 3pm to 4:30pm. on March 27 where ten AAFF film artists will each present 20 slides for 20 seconds each. And there will also be a family friendly panel on animation loops from 9 am to noon on March 29. North Quad will also host an hour long What the Hell Was That? Panel at 10:30am on March 30. The Ann Arbor Arts Center ( Liberty St., about 5 block walk)
A2AC will showcase movie-related artworks of three Southeast Michigan artists who have incorporated moving images in their pieces. On March 27 the artists will be part of a moderated discussion about their work starting at 3 pm.
AAFF pricing, Individual screenings, $9 students, $14 general admission. In person passes/ whole Festival $155 per person, students $90 and seniors $130. Passes for in person and online, students $120, seniors $165 and $200 general admission.
