Holland, Mich., May 16, 2017 – Waterfront Film Festival recently announced the opening of its new screening and event venue located in Holland, Michigan. The Thursday, June 22 Grand Opening will feature a multiple Audience Award winning favorite film as well as a Meet & Greet Reception. The event is aimed to help bring awareness to a rare genetic disorder that affects a local wheelchair-bound woman who also was recently diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. The film shown will be “THE

ATAXIAN” – an inspiring documentary about two guys affected with the degenerative neuromuscular disorder Friedreich’s ataxia who race across the country on bikes to raise money and awareness for the cause.

FILM SYNOPSIS

Unable to walk due to the neuromuscular disorder, Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), Kyle Bryant and a team of friends attempt the most grueling bicycle race in the world, The Race Across America (RAAM). The feature-length documentary, “The Ataxian,” spotlights a man whose will and determination carry him and his teammates across a continent under almost impossible conditions—an act that sparks others to take action in their own lives. Stunning cinematography exposes raw, unfiltered emotions juxtaposed against the most inspiring landscapes across America. With purity and grace, the film examines the life of a man aggressively living every moment in a race against his own mortality. TRAILER: http://TheAtaxianMovie.com/ 

“An inspiring story of will and determination, The Ataxian features gorgeous cinematography and unforgettable storytelling.” – Huffington Post

Holland resident Holly LeBlanc who was diagnosed with the disorder over 20 years ago contacted Waterfront Film Festival about showing the film. WFF Co-Founder Hopwood DePree said, “This is exactly the type of programming we are passionate about offering to the community: An entertaining film that can bring awareness to a worthy cause. We have known Holly for a long time and we are thrilled she contacted us about showing this film. It is a great feeling when one non-profit organization can help another for a good cause.” Waterfront Film Festival will donate the proceeds from the fundraiser ticket sales to raising awareness and finding a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia.

Film cast is expected to be in attendance, including Holly LeBlanc, for the screening and after-party.

Seating is limited so advance tickets are recommended. Tickets are priced at $25 to attend the film and Fundraiser Reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22 and 7 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Waterfront Film Festival’s new facility located at 479 Columbia Avenue in Holland. An encore matinee screening on Saturday June 24 11 a.m. will be offered for $10.

Tickets and more information can be found at: www.WaterfrontFilm.org

About Holly LeBlanc:

Holly LeBlanc has always had a passion for people who are hurting. At the age of 18 her life took a major detour and she was faced head on with a life altering illness that resulted with a compromised digestive system. During her recovery, doctors discovered she was living with a neurological disorder. After five years of a misdiagnosis, they determined she had Friedreich’s Ataxia or FA for short. FA is a life-shortening disability. As a result of this disease she has lost her ability to walk. Her coordination and speech are affected. With the help of her family, friends and service dog, Barkley, she is able to navigate life. Recently, Holly was also diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.

Holly made a choice long ago to be better, not bitter, in her life. She desires to give purpose to this pain. We all have challenges during our lives and each story is unique. It is through the sharing of her story, people will discover hope for their own battle.

The non-profit she has recently started is called “It Takes Hope”.

www.ItTakesHope.org 

LeBlanc will share her story tonight, Tuesday May 16, at Central Wesleyan Church, 446 W. 40th Street, at 6:30 p.m. That event is free and open to the public.

About WaterfrontFilm.Org

Since 1999, the non-profit Waterfront Film Organization has been offering unique film experiences, education and opportunities. Based in West Michigan, Waterfront founded one of the leading destination film festivals in the Midwest, regularly hosting Midwest premieres of Academy Award winning and nominated films. For more information on Waterfront Film Organization visit www.WaterfrontFilm.org, “like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WaterfrontFilm and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/WaterfrontFilm

On Saturday, June 18th, the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences gathered to celebrate the 39th Annual Michigan Emmy Awards at the Motor City Casino - Hotel Sound Board Theater.  The Michigan Film & Digital Media Office would like to extend a hearty congratulations to all those who took home hardware as winners and also to all those who received nominations.  Well deserved, indeed!

• 2017 List of Winners
• 2017 List of Nominee's
• Photo's of Winners

The MFDMO is once again heading up to the Traverse City Film Festival to hold a Michigan Film Office Advisory Council Meeting.  The meeting will occur at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the West Bay Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort, 615 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.

The MFDMO will also be hosting an official panel as part of the TCFF, while the topic, date and time remain TBD.  We hope that you can join us for either of these events or to take in all the fantastic programming put forth by the TCFF organizers.

DETROIT, June 1, 2017 – This year’s Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit  celebrated its tenth year as part of the nationwide festival that was founded in 2005. To commemorate the milestone anniversary, a short film program was introduced and special afterglows were held. Throughout April, 13 screenings over four weekends took place at five locations before culminating with “The Stuff of Dreams” (La stoffa dei sogni) at Detroit Film Theatre on April 30. The closing event included a visit from the film’s director, Gianfranco Cabiddu, who was very well-received. Many spectators stayed after the screening to ask questions and participate in the afterglow at the Crystal Café of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).

Every year each festival city names its favorite films and a national favorite is also announced. The favorite films are chosen by audience members through ballot voting (out of five stars) following each screening. This year’s overall audience favorite, both in Detroit and nationally, is the comedy “An Almost Perfect Town” (Un paese quasi perfetto) directed by Massimo Gaudioso. Detroit audiences gave it 4.71 stars followed by 4.65 stars for “Italo” directed by Alessia Scarso, and 4.58 stars for “Like Crazy” (La pazza gioia) directed by Paolo Virzi.  

The Detroit audience favorite from the short film program, which featured seven titles and was also part of the national festival, was “Bellissima.” It was also the national favorite for the short film program.

In addition to the closing night afterglow, another was held at the Italian American Cultural Society Banquet Hall in Clinton Township on April 8, with director Alessia Scarso in attendance.

ABOUT THE AUDIENCE FAVORITE FILMS

“An Almost Perfect Town”      2015 – Director, Massimo Gaudioso, Comedy, 92 min.

The residents of a mountain village are desperate to save their small town. Will their wacky plan succeed?

“Italo”                                      2014 – Director, Alessia Scarso, Drama, 100 min.

Based upon the heart-warming true story of Italo, a stray dog that wandered into a small Sicilian town.

“Like Crazy”                           2016 - Director, Paolo Virzi, Comedy, 118 min.

Five-time 2016 David di Donatello winner, including best picture, best director and best actress 

-MORE-

Beatrice and Donatella are patients of a women’s mental institution. Their friendship brings them to a hilarious escape and the search for a little happiness in the world of the sane. A modern-day Thelma and Louise!

“Bellissima”                             2015 – Director, Alessandro Capitani, Comedy/Drama, 12 min.

Veronica is twenty years old. She is a prisoner of her own huge body. During a party in a nightclub a boy makes fun of her. Veronica is deeply hurt; she goes to the toilet and locks the door to hide. 

Founded in 2005 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Italian Film Festival USA is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that screens, for free, premieres of contemporary award-winning Italian films. With 11 other major metropolitan cities and more than 10,000 viewers, the festival is one of a kind in all the United States.

The 2017 Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit included screenings in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Clinton Township, and Dearborn.

The 2017 Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit could not happen without the generosity of its sponsors, which include Antonio’s Cucina Italiana; The Roman Village; The Rugiero Promise Foundation; Istituto Italiano di Cultura - Chicago; Michigan Council for the Arts & Cultural Affairs; Anton Art Center; Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan; Italian American Club of Livonia Charitable Foundation; StudioH2G; Italian American Cultural Society; Butzel Long Attorneys at Law; Cantoro Italian Markets & Trattoria; Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan; Oberheiden Law Group; Hinman & DiCicco Attorneys at Law; U of M Romance Languages and Literatures; U of M College of Literature, Science and the Arts; U of M Institute for the Humanities;  U of M Department of Screen Arts and Culture; Christina Cotronei-Cascardo MD, Advanced Asthma Allergy & Immunology Care PC; Giorgio Marchese Attorney at Law;

Schlossberg Legal; Italian American Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit the festival's website www.italianfilmfests.org or call 248-917-2352.

Those interested in receiving information by email about the Italian Film Festival USA, can send their email address and city of interest to info@italianfilmfests.org.

Follow Italian Film Festival USA on Facebook at Facebook.com/Italian-Film-Festival-USA and on Twitter at @ItalianFilmFest.