2024 • USA • 34 min • Scott Ballew

Adult Language, Staff Pick

In the late 60’s a group of poets, writers and musicians descended upon the southernmost point of the United States to pursue their love of literature and fishing. Initiated by Tom McGuane - the prodigal son of American Literature in the 1970’s - his friends Jim Harrison, Richard Brautigan, Russell Chatham and Jimmy Buffett soon joined him. This crew and that era were captured on film by Guy De La Valdene and Christian Odasso in an obscure documentary called “Tarpon” in 1974. They went on to create some of the best art, poetry, novels, and music of their generation - but there will never be anything like Key West in the early 70’s. If you were lucky to survive it.

2024 • Canada • 90 min • Yvonne Drebert & Zach Melnick

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick

Cutting-edge underwater drones explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.

2024 • USA • 25 min • Kristin Ojaniemi

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly

Born in the Barn: Part 6 “Last Game in the Barn” - The 1990’s bring another generation of Ewen-Trout Creek Panther girls and boys ballers on the court for many records, hard losses, and a lifetime of memories. The Last Game in the Barn is played in 1998. The 2022 team continues to dominate the tournaments with a quarterfinal win, sending the E-TC boys downstate for the first time in 40 years. “Born in the Barn” is an 8-part docu-series completed in 2024.

2023 • USA • 3 min • Lily Kissinger

First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere

In Gordon, viewers follow the story of a blacksmith based in Marquette, Michigan, during which Gordon Gearhart explains the importance of following one’s own interests.

2022 • USA • 6 min • Henry Schenkel

Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker

Department of Natural Resources officer, Jay Wesley, and two avid outdoorsmen dive into the importance of salmon preservation in one of the top fisheries in the country because of the effect salmon has on the freshwater ecosystem of Michigan.

2022 • United States • 13 min • Allison Doxey

Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker

The story of Know Obstacles, a band made up of disabled kids in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and their founder, Steve Osburn.

2024 • USA • 4 min • Mike King

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick

‘In Waves’ gives us a glimpse into the joy that has cultivated a culture of Great Lakes connection. In 2004, visionary Beryl Skrocki founded Sleeping Bear Surf with a dream of sharing the potential for freshwater play. Now, 20 years later, her legacy lives on.

2024 • USA • 4 min • Eden Sabalboro

Family Friendly

Step into the US’s largest urban sugarbush in Detroit’s sprawling Rouge Park with the Detroit Sugarbush Project.

2024 • USA • 16 min • Aaron Peterson

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language

Kiko is the Keweenaw’s favorite Brazilian Yooper. He rides bikes, plays accordion, makes a little trouble and tells truths we all probably need to hear. A collaboration of Aaron Peterson Studios and Points North Podcast.

2024 • USA • 4 min • Nick & Chris Loud

Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere

The Leelanau Conservancy’s long-running, highly trusted water quality program. This video profiles Chase Heise of the Leelanau Conservancy as we venture out onto Lake Leelanau to learn more about their water quality program that has been operating continuously for over 30 years, and the overall health of our freshwater lakes in northern Michigan.

2022 • USA • 12 min • Steve Brimm

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Subject in Attendance

Interviews with tribal knowledge holders about Manoomin (wild rice) during a 6 day workshop/ gathering in Baraga, Michigan

2024 • USA • 52 min • Ryan Busch

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Staff Pick, Making Waves Recipient

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the birthplace of organized skiing in America.It is also home to the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and one of the oldest ski clubs in the country. This documentary film explores the skiing culture that continues to shape the lives of those who consider themselves Yoopers. 

2024 • USA • 15 min • Finn Ryan

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, World Premiere

The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest indigenous tribe east of the Mississippi and has been stewarding the fisheries of their Great Lakes territory for generations. This project explores the importance of the fishery to the tribe and how they’re working to ensure a healthy fishery for the next seven generations.

2024 • USA • 7 min • Makaylee Kuhn and Mark Shevy

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly

The NMU Volleyball team is known for big action when they serve, bump, set, and spike on the court. Off the court, they serve as an example for how we can make changes to take better care of our environment.

2023 • USA • 91 min • Thomas Lindsey Haskin

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick

THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery, formerly known as RELENTLESS, is a captivating mystery that engages the audience in a battle for the survival of the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth, the Great Lakes. This fascinating true story, narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, follows remarkable people tackling the mystery of why the most prized fish nearly vanished. The crash destroyed jobs and businesses, and devastated towns, tribal communities, and First Nations across the region.

2022 • USA • 4 min • Nick Behling

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly

Nick is at Presque Isle Park on a rainy night in Marquette Michigan to witness the migration of the Blue Spotted Salamander. Tyler Penrod from the Superior Watershed Partnership shares his knowledge about these blue spotted friends.

2022 • USA • 7 min • Daniel Bremmer

Filmmaker in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker

“The Search” follows Great Lakes Surfer Hunter Lohman on his journey to chase waves and his idea of true happiness. With the mystery and inconsistency that comes with lake surfing, Hunter will persevere through unpredictability to find solidarity and serenity in the places he goes and in the life he has chosen for himself.

2024 • USA • 17 min • Eric Machiela

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere

Ghosts towns in the Upper Peninsula aren’t abandoned communities. Some of them are still very much alive. Told from the perspective of the Nahma Inn employees, they recount the spooky and unexplainable happenings that occur on a regular basis.

2022 • USA • 8 min • Steve Brimm

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere

Spearfishing workshops for all ages facilitated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian community Natural Resource Department.

2023 • USA • 71 min • Davis Huber

Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Representative in Attendance, Staff Pick

Troubled Water is an exhilarating adventure, conservation film that beckons viewers to follow along on a transformative journey down the stunning coast of Lake Michigan. As the journey unfolds, the film unveils the significance of the Line 5 pipeline issue, the dire need for collective action and the historic precedent that this movement would establish. If successfully shutdown, it would become the first active pipeline in US history to be terminated before it ruptures.