Join us for Fresh Coast Free, the annual kickoff event for the Fresh Coast Film Festival
Our free festival kickoff starts at 5pm with Marquette’s food trucks and a bluegrass concert at the Fresh Coast Basecamp tent in Lower Harbor Park. This family-friendly event is open to all, so bring a blanket and enjoy. Film screenings and award announcements begin at 7pm.
Fresh Coast is proud to be the Michigan Premiere of this cutting edge Great Lakes film from Inspired Planet Productions. ‘All Too Clear’ uses new technologies to show never before seen underwater wonders of the Great Lakes. This short behind the scenes video gives a glimpse of what it took to create the film–but you don’t want to miss the premiere over the weekend and meet the filmmakers and their tools to see the future of Great Lakes filmmaking.
Representative in Attendance
Fresh Coast is proud to be the Michigan Premiere of this feature length film exploring ski culture in Afghanistan. This is trailer for the full film that will be shown during the festival and represented by friend-of-the-festival and driving force behind the project, Stacy Bare of Grand Rapids, Mich. This is one of those films where the backstory is as epic as the final film, don’t miss this conversation.
Humorist, filmmaker and a known Canadian–Katie Burrell is at the center of Fresh Coast this year. This is a short compilation of her work to give you a taste of what’s in store! Her film Weak Layers plays twice at the festival and she’s the main event Saturday night don’t miss it!
Filmmaker in Attendance
NMU grad Ryan Busch has completed his multi-year epic quest to craft a comprehensive, fun, and action packed feature film on the skiing culture of the Upper Peninsula. This is a trailer for that project which has been supported by the Fresh Coast Making Waves grant and will be showing over the weekend.
World Premiere, Staff Pick
An examination of how two small sticks, randomly acquired in Minnesota’s north woods, have slowly transformed into treasured possessions.
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders and big laughs. Armed with a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm. As the week unfolds, Aldo’s wide-eyed explorations not only capture the audience’s imagination, but also subtly echo the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful and endearing ode to the joy of nature’s smallest marvels.
Staff Pick
An artist gives life to the memories of our most beloved companions.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Making Waves Recipient, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
With the goal of banding 100,000 birds, this film follows Tom and Paula Bartlett on their quest throughout northwest Ohio, and the impact they have not only on bird research, but those they meet along the way.