For 20 years it has been almost as much a draw to Traverse City as the Cherry Festival, but the entertainment is sadly ending for the Traverse City Film Festival.

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The news came from Oscar-winning filmmaker and festival founder Michael Moore on Tuesday, May 2, much to the surprise of many Traverse City leaders. Moore stated the decision was made by the TCFF board to end the festival and was unanimously made.

"We’ve decided, after much heartfelt discussion, that it’s best to close this era of the film fest now while we’re ahead, no longer in debt, and go out on top with many years of fond memories that we will all collectively cherish for the rest of our lives,” Moore wrote in a statement. 

Moore did mention in the statement that even though last year’s festival was “one of our best festivals ever” it was time to put an end to the yearly event.

"...it's best to close this era of the film fest now while we’re ahead, no longer in debt, and go out on top with many years of fond memories that we will all collectively cherish for the rest of our lives",  Moore commented.

The President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism Trevor Tkach, was quick to comment on the news regarding the loss of the annual festival held in July each year saying that the move will have a negative impact on the city’s economy.

“It was a huge economic driver for our region, especially because it came mid-week. It was something that drew people here in between weekends,” Tkach explained. “Seeing something like that disappear is going to have an impact no doubt.”

Founded as an annual event in 2005 to help “save one of America's few indigenous art forms—the cinema", the festival drew movie lovers and stars from around the country to Traverse City each summer.

You can read the complete statement from Michael Moore on behalf of the TCFF board here. 

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