As the film industry becomes increasingly important in Michigan's economic recovery, Wayne State University is joining forces with Wayne County to host the second annual Detroit Windsor International Film Festival (DWIFF). In addition to the entertainment value of the festival, the 2009 DWIFF goes beyond the traditional realm of movie screenings by offering intellectual, creative and skills-building opportunities for film buffs on both sides of the Detroit River.

"DWIFF 2009 is a shining example of how film is emerging as an essential part of Detroit's creative identity, and how Wayne State is driving that momentum by immersing the campus and broader Midtown community in a culture of film," said Nabelah Ghareeb, associate vice president of business operations at Wayne State. "In addition to building a workforce infrastructure for the film industry by virtue of our top academic training programs, Wayne State works closely with Michigan-based and outstate producers to support movie-making in Detroit."

The DWIFF opening ceremony commences at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Wayne State's McGregor Memorial Conference Center. Several high-ranking state and local government officials have confirmed their attendance at the event.

Wayne State is the venue for screenings of award-winning independent films -- many of which were shot in Michigan by Michigan filmmakers -- at multiple campus locations over the course of the June 25-28 festival. They include the coming-of-age sports story Dear Mr. Fidrych, which features a poignant performance by the late Mark "the Bird" Fidrych, who died in a tragic accident as the film was nearing completion. Fidrych's wife and daughter are expected to attend the screening. Another DWIFF film, Raised Alone, by Sam R. Kadi, was the first film to be approved by the Michigan Film Office for the state's recently adopted film industry tax incentive.

A new twist for DWIFF 2009 is an outdoor "walk-in movie under the stars" feature at dusk on Saturday, June 27 on Wayne State's Keast Commons. The walk-in movie screening is free and open to the public. The other DWIFF screenings are free to Wayne State students who show a OneCard. The public can purchase DWIFF tickets on site or at www.DWIFF.org, which also provides a complete listing of specific times and locations for DWIFF events and movie screenings.

The DWIFF reinforces the success of Wayne State's inaugural "Moving Media Student Film Festival" in May, which elicited extensive participation by students from five universities in southeast Michigan. In March, Wayne State hosted an "Aspiring Film Makers Boot Camp" for individuals seeking an intensive training course in film production. In addition, the university holds student actors master classes through its College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts in partnership with the Screen Actors Guild of Michigan to help students land jobs on major motion pictures being filmed in and around Detroit.

In addition to DWIFF events on Wayne State's campus, attendees can participate in a TechFair at the nearby College for Creative Studies June 26-27, a Children's Film Festival at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library on Woodward Avenue on Saturday, June 27, and a Children's Film Workshop. The University of Windsor also will host screenings for two films as part of this international festival.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.