The Wolf Tree Film Festival’s 2nd Official Selection “Devils” was shot and cast in Michigan! Bret Miller (Director), is an independent film director working from Atlanta that asks the question: ‘So, what happens to those who are forgotten?’
While taking a final tour of an investment home, a distracted developer is horrified to discover that the deceased owner never left. And she never will.
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The Wolf Tree Film Festival’s 1st Official Selection is “A Is For Apple” — Directed by Adam Mick Laughlin! This animated, student film hails from Flashpoint Chicago, a campus of Columbia College Hollywood.
A worm finds a city inside an apple, but must escape the fascist government drones inside.
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Congrats to the incredible 2022 #WolfTreeFilmFestival Official Selections! Grab your tickets ASAP for the short film screenings at The Franke, Saturday, Jan 22, 2022. Doors open at 6pm and films roll at 7pm.
CONTENT WARNING: Some films included in this festival contain mature content that may be inappropriate for young viewers and may be triggering for others. Viewer discretion is advised.
A IS FOR APPLE
Written & Directed by Adam Mick Laughlin · Produced by Killian Heilsberg
A worm finds a city inside an apple, but must escape the fascist government drones inside.
DEVILS
Written & Directed by Bret Miller · Produced by Ashley Carey
While taking a final tour of an investment home, a distracted developer is horrified to discover that the deceased owner never left. And she never will.
FROM THE DIARY OF A SPACE VILLAN
Directed by Kendall Royce Oswald, Spencer Nolan Oswald · Produced by Spencer Nolan Oswald
There’s perhaps nothing more villainous, and of course nothing more space, than a space villain. In this film, a villainous space bounty hunter by the name of Keith, carries out a task in a very poetic-like manner.
HUDSON HOGSETT: KINDA INTO SOCCER
Directed by Jordan Presley · Produced by Andrew Stewart
While Hudson and his immediate circle of family, friends, and coaches won’t say this (they’re too humble) we believe that Hudson is one of the most special soccer talents in North America in his age group. Our brief for telling his story was to walk the fine line between showcasing the incredible talent that is Hudson Hogsett, while also showing the grounded nature of him being a kid.
LICENSE & REGISTRATION
Written & Directed by Jackson Ezinga · Produced by Jackson Ezinga, Chris Randall
Elliott Nelson, a cop impersonator with good intentions, makes his first traffic stop.
PERPETUAL PLASTIC
Directed by Eric Ebner · Produced by Guillem Rius · Edited by Scott Elliott
Millions of single use plastics are discarded every day across the globe. What happens then? Artist liina klauss attempts to visualize the journey of all disgraced plastics through her installation on a beach in Bali, Indonesia. First Prize at the National Geographic Society Ocean Plastic Innovation Challenge.
STATIC SPACE
Directed by John Klein, Kate Black-Spence
Jamie is a young woman living in rural Indiana struggling to figure out her place and identity. When she inadvertently stumbles across a frequency on her ham radio and makes contact with astronaut Noa currently orbiting Earth, the two women are presented with the opportunity to find meaningful connection, even while worlds apart.
THE I’S HAVE IT
Directed & Choreographed by Kayla Schiltgen · Camerawork by Jasper Meddock
“the I’s have it” explores responding to the innermost voice. Filmed in the dense forest of Northern Minnesota, the setting creates a space equal to the depths of one’s mind, challenging the dancer, cinematographer and viewer to allow themselves to get lost, listen deeply, and perhaps find something new.
THE PEACE PIPELINE
Directed by Gitz Crazyboy, Tito Ybarra
Comedians and activists Gitz Crazyboy and Tito Ybarra pose as a indigenous energy company sharing plans to reroute Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through the wealthy white suburbs of Duluth, MN, to more fairly share the risks oil pipelines bring to indigenous lands—with shocking and hilarious results.
Hey YPC friends!
Last chance to submit your short films to the 2022 Wolf Tree Film Festival before the DEADLINE: DEC 12, 2021. We look forward to viewing your works of art and have already received some fantastic submissions!
Over the years, the #WolfTreeFilmFestival housed in historic Marshall, Michigan, a gorgeous small town with a vibrant artistic community, has showcased many inspiring cinema works, cultivated networking opportunities between aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals (such as Lance Barber, Oliver Robins, & Sebastian Twardosz), and celebrated the creativity and unique charm of the Great Lakes region. Check out Wolf Tree’s past Official Selections to get hyped for next year’s event!
Announcing our 2022 #WolfTreeFilmFestival host: John Matthew Riopelle! Riopelle is an actor, playwright, lyricist and screenwriter with an MFA in screenwriting and playwriting from Point Park University. He is the winner of the Gilman Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award, a two-time Richard Rodgers and Jonathan Larson Grant finalist and a Fred Ebb Musical Theater Award finalist. His musical, “Streets of America,” with score by Tony Award Winner, Michael Rupert, was developed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in conjunction with American University as part of their Inaugural Page to Stage Series on the Millennium Stage.
Matthew grew up in Detroit and studied acting at the Cranbrook Theater School and Actor’s Alliance Theater Conservatory. Since then he has lived in Los Angeles writing feature films, pilots (“Sullivan in Cuba,” “Blind Pig,” “Chavez,” “Left,” “The Camel Knows the Way,” & more), Broadway plays, and has a brother who is also a local artistic director and actor here in Marshall. We are excited to welcome Matthew to the Wolf Tree lineup and hope to see you all there next year!
In its fourth year, Wolf Tree Film Festival showcases films set in the Great Lakes region or that include themes or topics related to the region, as well as the work of filmmakers who reside in or grew up in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes region is defined as any state or territory that touches one of the Great Lakes (including Ontario, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York).
Submitted films should be no longer than 30 minutes, and all genres will be considered.
The festival will take place at The Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, MI* and will include screenings of each selected film, a Q&A with select filmmakers, an awards presentation, and a filmmaker roundtable with industry professionals.
The Wolf Tree Film Festival is housed in historic Marshall, Michigan, a gorgeous small town with a vibrant artistic community. Hosted by the Franke Center for the Arts and Marshall’s Youngish Professionals Committee, the festival is held at Franke Center, originally a church built in 1921, now an arts complex that is the proud home of world-class concerts, inspiring theater, and award-winning movies.
*The festival will adhere to all public health and safety recommendations at the time of the event
KEY DATES
Dec 1, 2021: FilmFreeway deadline for submissions
January 5, 2022: Filmmaker Notification date
January 22, 2022: Wolf Tree Film Festival at the Franke Center
In its fourth year, Wolf Tree Film Festival showcases films set in the Great Lakes region or that include themes or topics related to the region, as well as the work of filmmakers who reside in or grew up in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes region is defined as any state or territory that touches one of the Great Lakes (including Ontario, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York).
Submitted films should be no longer than 30 minutes, and all genres will be considered.
The festival will take place at The Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, MI* and will include screenings of each selected film, a Q&A with select filmmakers, an awards presentation, and a filmmaker roundtable with industry professionals.
The Wolf Tree Film Festival is housed in historic Marshall, Michigan, a gorgeous small town with a vibrant artistic community. Hosted by the Franke Center for the Arts and Marshall’s Youngish Professionals Committee, the festival is held at Franke Center, originally a church built in 1921, now an arts complex that is the proud home of world-class concerts, inspiring theater, and award-winning movies.
*The festival will adhere to all public health and safety recommendations at the time of the event
Key Dates:
October 1, 2021: FilmFreeway open for submissions
Dec 12, 2021: FilmFreeway deadline for submissions
January 5, 2022: Filmmaker Notification date
January 22, 2022: Wolf Tree Film Festival at the Franke Center
For more information on submission rules and awards, please visit FilmFreeway.
The Fridays at the Fountain concert series is set to return in-person at the Brooks Memorial Fountain on July 9th with local favorites, Danae & The Grind. Running every other Friday through the end of the summer, the series will feature 4 additional local musical acts including Chameleon (7/23), Rae of Light (8/6), Kjell Croce (8/20) and Mike Reed (9/3).
2021 Dates
July 9 – Danae & The Grind
July 23 – Chameleon
August 6 – Rae of Light
August 20 – Kjell Croce
September 3 – Mike Reed
The series is brought to the community by Marshall’s Youngish Professional Committee with the help of generous sponsorships by the Marshall Community Foundation, Oaklawn Hospital and Woods Insurance, along with Choose Marshall, Black Lab Five, Graphics3, Dark Horse Brewing Co., Franke Center for the Arts, Austin Rinard – Miller Financial Services, & Copper Athletic Club.
Last summer, the series was presented entirely virtually via livestream. “We’re looking forward to being able to bring the concerts in-person again this year. As our community is emerging from being largely at home during 2020, it’s a great way to rebuild and develop connections,” says Jennifer Conley Darling, one of the event organizers. The concerts will again be live streamed so that those who can’t attend in-person can still enjoy the music.
All the concerts will take place at the Brooks Memorial Fountain and be live streamed through Choose Marshall and YPC’s Facebook at 7pm EST. There is no cost to attend. Please bring your own chair or blanket.
#BeYoungish #ChooseMarshall
The Fridays at the Fountain concert series is set to return in-person at the Brooks Memorial Fountain on July 9th with local favorites, Danae & The Grind. Running every other Friday through the end of the summer, the series will feature 4 additional local musical acts including Chameleon (7/23), Rae of Light (8/6), Kjell Croce (8/20) and Mike Reed (9/3). There is no cost to attend. Please bring your own chair or blanket.
The series is brought to the community by Marshall’s Youngish Professional Committee with the help of generous sponsorships by the Marshall Community Foundation, Oaklawn Hospital and Woods Insurance, along with Choose Marshall, Black Lab Five, Graphics3, Dark Horse Brewing Co., Franke Center for the Arts, Austin Rinard – Miller Financial Services, & Copper Athletic Club.
Last summer, the series was presented entirely virtually via livestream. “We’re looking forward to being able to bring the concerts in-person again this year. As our community is emerging from being largely at home during 2020, it’s a great way to rebuild and develop connections,” says Jennifer Conley Darling, one of the event organizers. The concerts will again be live streamed so that those who can’t attend in-person can still enjoy the music.
All the concerts will take place at the Brooks Memorial Fountain and be live streamed through Choose Marshall and YPC’s Facebook at 7pm EST.
The Franke Center for the Arts and Marshall’s Youngish Professionals invite you to the 3rd Annual Wolf Tree Film Festival on Saturday, January 23, 2021 in a virtual setting.* This year will feature one of the stars of CBS’ Young Sheldon, Battle Creek’s own, Lance Barber. Lance will emcee the event and do a private filmmaker’s roundtable with the selected filmmakers.
Special Guest: Lance Barber
Lance Barber has the skills to play a wide range of television characters having appeared in numerous shows on the small screen since 2001. An alumnus of Chicago’s Second City, Lance played the role of Paulie G on HBO’s critically acclaimed, The Comeback, which The New York Times described as “among the great villains of television comedy.”
Lance has also had recurring roles on Black-ish, Faking It, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Californication, United States of Tara, and many more. Recently, Lance appeared as Irwin in the feature film, Buster’s Mal Heart opposite Rami Malek. Barber, who was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, began acting with his Pennfield High School Drama Club.
Why “Wolf Tree?” According to legend, the Wolf Tree was a lone, prominent tree that once stood in the middle of Marshall. The first settler in the area sought refuge in the heights of the tree as wolves and bears roamed the dirt lane and forest that would one day become the city’s downtown. Later, a platform was built in the large oak’s branches where it is said a sentry, seeking the faint glow of wolves’ eyes, would hunt, eager to protect the village from threats hidden in the darkness below. It is a wild history, a bold story, and a great homage to the films that will be featured at this exciting annual event.
* Wolf Tree Film Festival will be fully virtual in 2021. The festival will include screenings of each selected film and an awards presentation.