International Film Festival: Showing 22 Independent Films

By Justin Marr

To Central Michigan movie buffs, springtime might also mean film festival time.
The CMU International Film Festival has been underway since Thursday and has already been a hit, according to Film Society President Laci Wolever.
“When we showed ‘Into the Wild’ on Sunday the theater was packed,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it because I don’t even know the last time I saw Celebration Cinema that full.”
The attendance for the Oscar-winning film was over 75 people, the best showing thus far.
“Into the Wild” is only one of 22 films being projected, all of them independent films.
This is fewer films than were shown in previous years.
"We're bringing in fewer films this year so we could focus on making a more concerted effort to bring in more quality films ... more diverse and interesting films," said Stephanie Mathson, Film Festival executive board member and a faculty librarian.
The diversity of the films is vast. Films will be shown from France, Iran, United Kingdom, and Denmark, to name a few.
“Among other things, the committee tries to pick a wide range of films in terms of their origin or countries,” said Mark Poindexter, Film Society adviser and broadcast and cinematic arts professor.
Wolever said the Film Society picked the films to help educate with diversity and cultural awareness.
“We’ll usually reserve a few spots for films that have never been shown at Celebration! or Mount Pleasant for that matter,” she said.
The school of broadcast and cinematic arts is not the only film underwriter for the festival.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has influenced the choice of the film “The Canary Effect”, a film about the history and future of Native American life.
“"I've already previewed [the film],” Mathson said. “It's powerful."
The films can be seen at Charles V. Park Library Auditorium, the Broadway Theater, 216 E. Broadway St., and Celebration! Cinema, 4935 E. Pickard.