February 28, 2012 (Birmingham, Mich.) -- The Michigan Film Awards Selection Committee has chosen Appleville, the first production of the Michigan Creative Film Alliance, as one of five nominees in the category of Best Student Film. Veteran actor Reuben Yabuku, who appears in the film, is a contender for Best Supporting Actor in a short film.
Winners will be announced and featured at the Uptown Film Festival, March 8-10, 2012 at Birmingham's Palladium Theater. Appleville will be screened at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday March 10.
The second annual Uptown Film Festival, one of the state's most prestigious film festivals, is a celebration of Michigan film and filmmakers. More than 5,000 metro-area film aficionados are expected to attend, exceeding the roughly 3,500 who flocked to Birmingham last year.
The Michigan Creative Film Alliance is a groundbreaking student collaboration involving the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. Twenty-two Creative Film Alliance students created, produced, directed and edited Appleville, an original script full of plot twists and turns. Characters Donny and Frank try to rob a group of senior citizens on a bus outing to the new Appleville Mall. What follows is a funny, bittersweet and action-packed ride as this unlikely crew must band together against the pursuing police before their options run out.
"We are thrilled to feature Appleville at the Uptown Film Festival and congratulate the Creative Film Alliance on its nominations for the Michigan Film Awards," says Uptown Film Festival Co-Executive Director Jeffrey Spilman. "The success of the Creative Film Alliance demonstrates that Michigan has homegrown, above-the-line talent that wants to stay in the state and contribute to our indigenous film industry, which has continued to flourish since the film incentives began in 2008."
The alliance was announced on July 6, 2010 by then-Governor Jennifer Granholm as a way to provide collaborative film industry training to students in Michigan. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provided seed money to launch the three-university collaboration. The intensive program used a professional film model as a learning environment for students.
The Michigan Creative Michigan Film Alliance filmed its second project, Beauty Queen, in summer 2011. The film is set to premiere March 29, 2012 at the Detroit Film Theatre.
"We are looking forward to our third successful season of the Michigan Creative Film Alliance," says Emery King, chairman of the Michigan Advisory Council, which aided in the Alliance's establishment. "We hope to continue to give our students this invaluable professional hands-on learning experience, and see the fruits of their effort acknowledged at prestigious film festivals like the Uptown in Birmingham."
A percentage of ticket sale proceeds will be donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and "Defeat the Label," a national anti-bullying non-profit.
About the Uptown Film festival:
Established in Birmingham, Mich. in 2011, the Uptown Film Festival (UFF) is a celebration of the Michigan film industry and, in particular, productions created entirely or in part within the state. It was established by leaders in the Michigan film industry and is held annually to recognize the industry and individuals' accomplishments within the state. The UFF's presenting sponsor is Oakland County Film and Digital Media. Since the Michigan Film Incentives were adopted in 2008, more than 10,000 production jobs have been created in addition to 7,000 acting jobs for extras and day players. The film industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of Michigan's economy. For more information on the UFF, visit www.uptownfilmfestival.com or call 248-233-6505.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.