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Join us for the 2nd Annual Uptown Film Festival in downtown Birmingham, Michigan on March 8-10th, 2012.

This 3-day event will highlight premieres of major feature films and screenings of nominated films from the Michigan Film Awards competition.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Uptown Film Festival is a celebration of the Michigan film industry, and in particular, productions created entirely, or in part, within the state. It was established by leaders in the Michigan film industry and is held annually to recognize creativity within the state.

2012 Sponsorship:

- Presenting - Oakland County Film & Digital Media

- Platinum - MotorCity Casino Hotel, Olympia Entertainment

- Gold - Delta, Film Detroit

- Silver - Michigan Film Office, Birmingham Principle Shopping District, FourEffect Creative Design Agency

- Corporate Partners - Uptown Entertainment, City of Birmingham, Kinetic Media Solutions, Seyburn Knox, S3 Entertainment Group, Hertz Schram PC

- Hospitality - South Bar, Barrio, What Crepe? Kuhnhenn

- Media - Fox 2, Amp 98.7 FM, 1270 AM

- Charity Partners - Gleaners Community Food Bank, Defeat the Label

- Friends of the Festival - Alexandra Cummings, MICA Entertainment

Film Schedules & Ticket Info: www.uptownfilmfestival.com

HIGHLIGHTED PREMIERES:

Brothers on the Line (d. Sasha Reuther)

** World Premiere **

Brothers On The Line is a provocative documentary feature exploring the legacy of the Reuther brothers, labor and civil rights champions, whose leadership of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union transformed the social, economic, and political landscape of a nation. Comprised of never-before-seen archival footage from the UAW internal archive and stirring first-hand accounts, this film takes an in-depth look at a controversial history. It not only weaves a striking personal narrative of one family's commitment, but provides timely commentary on issues that resonate far beyond their era (pensions, health care, worker rights, the rise and fall of the Big 3 automakers, and much more.Deforce (d. Daniel Faconer)

** Metro Detroit Premiere **

A History of Tyranny in the Heart of America. For decades Detroit has been an emblem of Urban decay. From the High School graduation rate, to the corruption in leadership, to the staggering crime rate, Detroit is hurting. DEFORCE delves into the largely untold HOW and WHY of these problems. Looking beyond over-reported factors like the decline of the American auto industry, the film explores the systemic divisions at the core of Detroit's crisis. The conditions revealed and the history explored are, at once, specific to Detroit, and universally shared with nearly all of America's poorest, forgotten urban centers. Detroit Winter (d. Barbara Troy)

** World Premiere **

Todd runs into his ex-girlfriend, literally, with his car. Not seriously injured, they begin a date until all hell breaks loose. Detroit can be a very dangerous place in the winter.

Dirty Energy (d. Bryan D. Hopkins)

** Michigan Premiere **

On April 20th, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded off the Gulf of Mexico taking the lives of 11 workers and sank as millions of barrels of oil poured into the ocean creating one of the worst environmental disasters in history. The fate of the Gulf is still largely unknown. Dirty Energy tells the personal story of those directly affected by the spill and are now struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the economic devastation and long-term health risks. Still today, the people of the Gulf are fighting for their livelihoods and are desperately struggling to preserve their endangered way of life

everydayPeople (d. Steve Croley, Jeff Croley & Bridgett McCormack)

** Detroit Premiere **

everydayPeople examines the small western Michigan villages of Saugatuck and Douglas, towns the culture wars forgot.

Preemie (d. Nick Kuiper)

** Detroit Premiere **

Four children from three different families face unspeakable odds after they are born three months early. Preemie is the story of how the smallest of babies are capable of the most enormous of struggles.

Restitution (d. Lance Kawas)

** Detroit Premiere **

A true crime writer investigating a small town murder spree uncovers the devastating truth that changes a town forever.

Somewhere West (d. David Marek)

** Detroit Premiere **

Somewhere West is a tender journey of forgiveness and friendship that travels 3000 miles across some of the country's most revelatory landscapes including: Michigan's Upper Peninsula, The Badlands, Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, and Utah's Salt Flats.