Year End Appeal - Please Support the AAFF

Dear Friends:

Two years ago our community rescued the Ann Arbor Film Festival from extinction following a state funding crisis. This generous response to our “Endangered” campaign was a critical moment in the history of our film festival, and every contribution helped in a meaningful way.

Now, during the most challenging funding climate faced by not-for-profits in our lifetimes, we turn to you – new and annual supporters, locally and internationally – to make a difference in the health and sustainability of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the nation’s longest-running film festival dedicated to independent and experimental films. During the past year, the Festival’s grants have declined by 50% and sponsorships have gone down by 20%, representing a significant percentage of our annual budget. While we are no longer endangered we still really need your help!

We are already a lean “animal” with a small, dedicated staff: 

• Coordinating more than 10,000 volunteer hours Presenting over 50 programs (many free to the public) and 30 national tour screenings 
• Managing over 2,500 films for our awards competition, which provides more than $20,000 in awards to directly support independent filmmakers
• Collaborating with numerous community organizations, including: UM’s Museum of Art, 826michigan, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, and Ann Arbor’s District Library, Summer Festival, Art Center and Symphony Orchestra

The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has forced major film festivals to close their doors over the past year, including CineVegas, PDX in Portland and the Jackson Hole Film Festival. Ann Arbor is a rare and precious survivor in the national landscape of film festivals; one that deserves to be protected and nurtured for its contribution to the world of film as art.

Here’s what a recent attendee said about the Festival: 

"The AAFF forever changed the way I think about film as an art form. You can't attend the festival without having your mind blown a little, perhaps a lot!” – Sean J. Kinney, Grand Rapids, MI

Don’t let the Ann Arbor Film Festival join so many other arts organizations and end up on the endangered species list again! Please invest in the health of one of Michigan’s most vital and acclaimed cultural institutions by making a meaningful year-end contribution. With your support we will survive this historic downturn and continue to increase the Festival’s impacts on our regional community while building toward our upcoming landmark 50th anniversary.

I want to personally assure you that any contribution you make today, no matter how large or small, will help us weather this challenging economy and present a dynamic 48th Ann Arbor Film Festival, March 23–28, 2010.

Sincerely, 

Donald Harrison 
Executive Director

P.S. - You can easily make a year end tax-deductible gift to the Ann Arbor Film Festival on our website here: http://aafilmfest.org/about/donate/