March 28, 2012
Michigan Film Enthusiast,
At an emergency Board meeting last week and after much thoughtful deliberation and soul-searching the Made-in-Michigan Film Festival announces that, effective immediately, the organization will be on a one year event hiatus. This includes the cancellation of the monthly Made-in-Michigan Film Society Meetings at Gallery 194, Michigan Moonlight Movies on the Courthouse Lawn, our appearance at the Lapeer Celebrates the Arts and History Festival and the 2012 Made-in-Michigan Film Festival in Downtown Lapeer.
Some of the reasons for the event hiatus include the recent resignations of almost half of our Board members, citing personal reasons and/or the lukewarm reception we have received from the local area for these unique and promising events. We also received word from the Lapeer DBA that the Made-in-Michigan Film Festival, as a sponsored event, has been dropped from their event insurance policy through no fault of our own. Not the least of our concerns is an inconceivable 80% rent increase from the PIX Theater for 2012. We simply do not have the resources or manpower to fund, coordinate and staff events at this time as we try to recover from these serious blows to our organization.
Our remaining board members will use this time to gain much needed support from local government and non-government agencies, to apply for grants to cover our increased operating costs and rental fees in Downtown Lapeer, secure the rights to our intellectual property, conduct a coordinated membership & volunteer drive and solicit business sponsorships all in an effort to solidify our foundation. We will continue to be active in the filmmaking community, operating the Lapeer County Film Office and ensuring Michigan filmmakers that the festival will be back better than ever in 2013.
We hope you understand our predicament as we hope we have made the right decision for our organization. We appreciate the support we have received from Michigan filmmakers and those in the community who attend and enjoy our events. We hope that support will continue through 2012 as we strengthen our organization and into 2013 as we plan for a wonderful comeback event.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. If you would like to speak to me directly, you may reach me at the number below.
Kindest Regards,
Juliane Bagley
President
810.882.1022
Made-In-Michigan Film Festival & Society
juliane@madeinmichiganfilmfestival.org www.madeinmichiganfilmfestival.org 
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