CENTRAL MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

February 14-18, 2018

Although winter may usher in blowing snow and colder temps, a hot attraction in Mt. Pleasant is the Central Michigan International Film Festival.  Hosted by Central Michigan University’s School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts and the Film Society, this popular festival spotlights features from multiple countries and genres as well as independent and student produced short films. 

Making waves in the animation world, “Loving Vincent,” nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, brings the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh to life to tell his remarkable story.  Every one of the 65,000 frames of the film is an oil painting, hand-painted by 125 professional oil painters who traveled across the world to the Loving Vincent studios in Poland and Greece to be a part of the production.

Sequined costumes and impressive triple axels play a supporting role in the dark comedy, “I Tonya.” This film is based on the true story of American figure skater, Tonya Harding whose legacy is forever defined by her association with the ill-conceived and poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan.  Allison Janney, who plays Harding’s mother has won the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe, SAG Award and Critic’s Choice Award and she is nominated for an Oscar in the same category.  Margot Robbie, who plays Harding has scored an Oscar nomination in the Best Actress category.

Nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography, “Darkest Hour” is set in the early days of World War II.  Moviegoers have a front row seat into the conflict Prime Minister Winston Churchill faced when he had to decide to negotiate with Hitler or fight against his regime.

Festival goers will not want to miss the chance to screen the work of tomorrow’s filmmakers.  Several student short films will be screened, free of charge, at CMU’s Park Library Auditorium on February 16 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 

Other films starring in the 2018 Central Michigan International Film Festival include, Billboards, The Florida Project, Whose Streets, The Last Reel, God’s Own Country and the documentary, The Stone Circle.

With tickets at an affordable $5 each movie goers have the opportunity to view critically acclaimed films, at a reasonable cost.  Tickets are available at online at www.cmfilmfest.com or at the door at CMU’s Park Library Auditorium and Celebration! Cinema in Mt. Pleasant. 

Scheduled for February 14-18, films will be screened at Celebration! Cinema in Mt. Pleasant and CMU’s Park Library Auditorium. 

See www.cmfilmfest.com for a complete festival schedule and description of all films.


Darcy Orlik is marketing and events coordinator at Central Michigan University’s College of Communications and Fine Arts and a CMU alum.