MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – For nine years, The Fresh Coast Film Festival has been bringing the best in documentary filmmaking to downtown Marquette.
The idea for this unique collection of documentaries came from the same mind behind Plaidurday, Bugsy sailor, whose vision created what many are considering to be among the best film festivals in the Great Lakes region.
“This has come such a long ways from three guys sitting around a coffee table with this dream, and we’re nine years in. It’s opening night. We’ve got standing room only with record ticket sales and record number of filmmakers in attendance. So I couldn’t be happier,” said Sailor.
This annual documentary film festival celebrates the outdoor lifestyle, water rich environments, and the resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and the Upper Midwest. It showcases environmental and cultural films and provides a beautiful venue for visual storytelling.
“There’s something for everybody at Fresh Coast. We think people should take the chance. We promise that you’ll be inspired. You might cry a little, you might laugh a little, and we want that whole spectrum of emotions,” said Sailor.
The festival also includes guided outdoor activities, filmmaker panels, and local food and brews. The event brings together filmmakers, storytellers, adventurers and enthusiasts for the four day of films and outdoor recreation.
“Everything’s about documentaries, storytelling. Everybody connects with some of these films. So it’s stories that are in our own communities and neighborhoods,” said Sailor.
The festival is held in various venues across the area, and with over 80 films on a variety of subjects, there’s a film for everyone’s taste.