Since 2009, Grand Rapids Film Festival (GRFF) has championed collaborative film exhibition and education events in Grand Rapids. Using a community-oriented approach to celebrate film and its makers, the GRFFl aims to increase regional access to and production of quality films that provide meaningful, constructive and encouraging entertainment while harnessing the transformative power of film.
F&MFriday, April 13
@The Waldron
The festival kicks-off with a signature event dubbed “F&M” which stands for fashion and music for film. This event is hosted by The Waldron on Ionia Street. The program centers around six of the short films screening at the festival, which serve as inspiration for fashion studies students from Kendall College of Art and Design. A total of 13 looks are designed and displayed on live models during this unconventional fashion show. Music from the shorts films also serve as a focal point.
Film Screenings: Saturday, April 14
@Wealthy Theatre
@Wealthy Theatre
120 films from all over the world were submitted, and 38 have been selected!
The international surprise this is year is the amount of films screening from the Islamic Republic of Iran! Five beautiful short pieces add the distinct cultural flair of this country to GRFF film blocks. Canada and France are additional cultures represented.
17 made-in-Michigan are exhibited, including seven from Grand Rapids.
- “Almost Human” by Ayden Byrnes of East Lansing
- “Chocolate and Cigarettes” by David Tappan of Detroit
- “David” by Ben Lemmen of Holland
- “Dreamer” by Jose Jimenez of Lyons
- “FOUR-NINETY” by Scott Magie of Holt
- “Peace During War” by Jennifer Machiorlatti of Paw Paw
- “Secret” by Shana Gagnon of Rochester Hills
- “Stigmatic: Our Opioid Crisis” by Garret Morgan of Essexville
From Grand Rapids:
- “A Name That I Admire” by Sam Smartt
- “Broken Strings” by Steven Meyaard
- “Mino Bimaadiziwin” by Shane McSauby
- “Never Too Late” by Kyle Cortez
- “Nottingham” by Jacob de la Rosa
- “Novocain”by Sloan Inns
- “Refill” by Carese Bartlet
- “The Spirit of God is Heavy” by Kendra Larsen
- Total Apocalypse by Katie Fox-Webb
Filmmaker Impact StoriesSunday, April 15
@The Waldron
Sunday, April 15 is the prime networking event for the regional filmmaking community. The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewing hosts GRFF’s Filmmaker Impact Stories from 5 to 8 PM. For this event, regional filmmakers share the story of how film transformed their lives.
Confirmed speakers are:
- Gabriel Del Castillo, “Season of Rage”
- Dan Falicki, “Handyman Dan”
- Katie Fox-Webb, “Total Apocalypse of the Heart”
- Rachel Floyd, “Black Girls Be Like”
- Brad Porter, Cornerstone University
- Scott Magie,” Four-Ninety”
- Shane McSauby, “Mino Bimaadiziwin”
- Sam Smartt, Calvin College and “A Name That I Admire”
- David Tappan, “Chocolate and Cigarettes”
