Birmingham's UFF selections will stir emotions and donations

Still from Machine Gun Preacher. Photo by Iize Kitshoff.

The films chosen for the Uptown Film Festival in Birmingham are not just a reflection of the creative and talented people working in Michigan's film industry, but of their passion and concern for one another. Showing tonight as part of the festival's annual charity gala is "Machine Gun Preacher," starring Gerald Butler (“300”).

 "We're excited to show 'Machine Gun Preacher' as a feature film in our festival benefitting these phenomenal charities," said UFF Co-executive Director Kirk Miller of the film released in September and that premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. "We're honored to be able to give local filmgoers and supporters of Michigan-made films an exclusive opportunity to see this film on the big screen, as it has not yet been released on DVD."

 

It is the true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealer and criminal who is transformed as he discovers his unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in war-torn Sudan and founder of Angels of East Africa.

The VIP Charity event will be held at the Palladium 12 Theatre beginning at 7 p.m. with a percentage of ticket sale proceeds to be donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and "Defeat the Label" an anti-bullying nonprofit organization. "Machine Gun Preacher" also will be shown at 9 p.m.

To purchase tickets, visit Uptown Palladium TheatreThe Palladium 12 Theatre is at 250 North Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

Below is the complete schedule for this weekend's Uptown Film Festival (UFF). More than 100 films were submitted by Michigan filmmakers and of those, 61 were selected as Michigan Film Award nominees.

March 9

Birmingham 8

6:30 p.m.: Filmmakers Reception

7:30 p.m.: Domestic and international shorts and experimental films:

8 p.m.: D-Force (Detroit premiere)

8:30 p.m.: Restitution (Detroit premiere)

8:30 p.m.: Blood on Canvas

9:30 p.m.: Slave

Palladium 12

250 North Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham

10 a.m.: Michigan Film Office Advisory Council Meeting (Nain Rouge Screening)

7 p.m.: VIP Charity Gala

8 p.m.: Detroit Music Awards Video Nominations

9 p.m.: Machine Gun Preacher

11:30 p.m.: VIP AfterGlow Party at What Crepe (172 North Old Woodward Ave.)

March 10

Birmingham 8

11 a.m.: Otelo Burning

11 a.m.: Detroit Winter (world premiere)

11 a.m.: Michigan Film Awards (MFA)-nominated shorts program "Funny and Clever"

11:15 a.m.: Somewhere West (Metro Detroit premiere)

12:30 p.m.: MFA-nominated short documentaries

12:45 p.m.: Dear Chelsey

1:30 p.m.: Mooz-lum

1:30 p.m.: MFA-nominated shorts program "Dramatic and Exciting"

3:45 p.m.: Mary's Buttons

2:45 p.m.: Alleged

3 p.m.: On the Bridge

4 p.m.: MFA-nominated shorts program "Artful, Dark and Edgy"

4:30 p.m.: Everyday People

4:45 p.m.: In Your Hands

Palladium 12

10 a.m.: Panel: Filming in Michigan, Trends and Updates

11 a.m.: Panel: Camera Solutions and Work Flow for the Independent Filmmaker

11:30 a.m.: Michigan's Interactive Gaming Industry: The New Frontier

2 p.m.: Bully

4 p.m.: Panel: Anti-bullying discussion featuring students, teachers and parents

6 p.m.: Michigan Film Awards Reception

7 p.m.: MFA-nominated top five shorts

7:30 p.m.: Detroit Music Awards top 5 video nominations

7:30 p.m.: Salvation Boulevard

9:30 p.m.: Michigan Film Awards

10 p.m.: Michigan Film Awards Afterglow Party

 For more information visit: Uptown Film Festival