Ann Arbor And Detroit To Host Cinetopia International Film Festival

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Cinetopia International Film Festival makes its return to Michigan this summer, taking place in Detroit and Ann Arbor June 4 through 8.

Festival Co-founder Russ Collins announced Wednesday that they will show over 45 films in a hundred different screenings at locations across both cities and on the campus of the University of Michigan.

Last year, there were showings at only four screens in Ann Arbor and one screen in Detroit. This year, they have expanded the festivities to five screens in Ann Arbor and four screens in Detroit.

The expansion in the festival will include a return to the Detroit Institute of Arts, as well as showings in locations along Woodward Ave. and Warren Ave., both of which have become central cultural gems in recent years.

Collins says the added venues are an attempt to continue the growth in popularity of the event.

"This year we're expecting 20,000 people to come," Collins told WWJ Newsradio 950. "We hope to build the festival so that we're right up there in that 80,000 number in just a few years."

According to Collins, the screenings will feature dramas, comedies and documentaries from the Cannes, Sundance, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, Tribeca festivals. He said they also plan to do a few other showings for those who can't make it to the scheduled viewing locations.

"We're going to do some free pop-up screenings in neighborhoods around Detroit," Collins said. "At Eastern Market, In Southwest Detroit in Mexicantown, at the New Center Theatre and probably a couple others that are yet to be announced."

Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Knight Foundation, this year's festival was allowed to increase the number of participating venues in both cities, Collins said.

The line-up of films as well as guest filmmakers will be announced in May.

Cinetopia pays homage to the cinematic culture and cinema artists of Michigan through events before and after the film events. Includes presentations and discussion panels with the directors, writers and stars of the films.

Get more festival information, as it becomes available, at this link.