About BWFF



BWFF Vision
The Blue Water Film Festival vision is to bring the art of filmmaking to the Blue Water Area.

BWFF Mission
The Blue Water Film Festival mission is to provide filmmakers with an opportunity to showcase their productions and present the Blue Water Area as a marketable, appealing setting for cinematic projects. Further, the Festival offers the local community fun, innovative and cultural entertainment through film presentations. Tourism benefits of the Festival generate annual populace and economic support to the Blue Water Area. Also, the Blue Water Film Festival will promote and maintain an integrity similar to film festivals throughout Michigan. The Blue Water Film Festival is committed to generating revenue for the Blue Water Area and throughout Michigan through responsible management and quality entertainment. All Blue Water Film Festival funds are used for the operation of the Festival. The Blue Water Film Festival will incorporate the highest standards of integrity, set and achieve challenging goals, provide quality entertainment and utilize a team approach.

Blue Water Film Festival Attendee Testimonials 2012

I am encouraged by the BWFF’s efforts to inspire independent filmmakers and promote Michigan talent. I was impressed by the production quality of the films and overall I had a great time. I’m hoping that even more people come out next year to experience the festival and make a weekend event out of it. I anticipate this festival to get HUGE!

John Webber

Animator, 2012 BWFF Judge

My weekend at the Blue Water Film Festival was a delight from start to finish. Great accommodations, friendly and helpful staff and organization and, of course, a fascinating selection of films, which impressed me enormously. Also, it was great to spend a little time in Port Huron, a lovely town with which, even as a native Michigander, I was unfamiliar. I appreciate everyone’s hard work and efforts, loved meeting everyone, and look back upon the whole event as a great experience.

Thanks.

Curtis Armstrong

“Revenge of the Nerds”/”King of the Nerds”
It meant a lot to have hometown validation of our film, “BARE.” I’m proud to tell fellow filmmakers that Port Huron has a top-notch film festival complete with supportive staff, enthusiastic audience, celebrities and lots of press. We had a wonderful experience, and would like to thank BWFF for letting us take part this year!

Katherine Nofs
Director, “Bare”
2012 Blue Water Film Festival Gold winner

What an awesome weekend of films, networking and catching the Michigan spirit.
So many of the films have stuck with me, generating discussions amongst my family (who attended with me) and other audience members that make you realize the profundity of even the quietest ideas.

Pete Henderson
“Hi Honey”
2012 Film Selection Award Winner

This festival was organized very well; especially continuous updates about the festival … I believe some years from now BWFF will be a coveted festival in Michigan.

Abhijit Ghosh
“Lifeless” Director

This was my second year screening at BWFF and honestly, it felt like coming home. High caliber films, friendly filmmakers and an audience that got all the jokes in our little comedy. Who could ask for more?

Jeremy Olstyn
“Hooked” Director

The Blue Water Film Festival is an incredible event that we look forward to every year. We love to get up to Port Huron and experience the beautiful town as well as the best films from Michigan and Ontario. It really is one of the best and most well run festivals I’ve ever been to, and the staff and volunteers never come off like staff and volunteers, they are your friends the moment you meet them. After the entire year of meet and greets and screenings and travelling to different places to promote these films that we are so passionate about, BWFF feels like coming home.

Joseph Parcell
“White Wine” Director

I had a great time at BWFF and felt welcomed during my time spent in Port Huron. It is great to know there is such support for Michigan filmmakers.

Jacquelyn Wilton
“Beauty Queen”
It’s truly an honor to be a part of the BWFF again! I’m looking forward to sending our latest short, “Small Town Fireworks,” for next year’s!

Michael McCallum

Michigan Independent Filmmaker Of the Year 2012

Uptown Film Festival

We had a great time at the BWFF. We had three generations of the family attending and everyone had a great time. It was really nice … great communication the whole way through. I really feel like the festival respects the filmmaker, thanks for that.

Paul Lenzi
“Pucker” 2012
“Doggone” 2009

We look forward to Blue Water [Film Festival]. It’s not just a film festival, it’s an event.

Scott Galeski
“The Tank II”

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2011 Testimonials

Seth Stark, Filmmaker, “The Dancer” 2011 BWFF Platinum Award Winner – “I just wanted to say how honored I am to have won the Platinum Award at the festival. … Obviously you are making an impact in the community with your vision and passion. I love seeing [the BWFF team’s] passion to create a strong filmmaking community. I would like to be a part of many future festivals in Port Huron. Thanks again!”

Jeremy Olstyn, Filmmaker, “Strong From Detroit” 2011 BWFF Best Direction Winner – “I just wanted to offer high praise and a Pure Michigan thank you for the amazing festival that you all put together this past weekend. It was fun, informative, and inspirational to spend a few days amongst such talented, locally grown filmmakers. It was especially meaningful to receive the award for best director from a Michigan fest since my hope with ‘Strong from Detroit’ was to impact a Michigan audience; and it was pretty awesome to see folks asking for autographs from Marcellous after our screening. Thanks again for continuing to promote the Michigan story on film.”

2011 FACEBOOK TESTIMONIALS

Douglas Schulze, Director, “Mimesis” – “On behalf of the cast and crew of ‘Mimesis’ I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone involved with the Michigan area premiere last weekend in Port Huron. When some folks heard our plans to unveil Mimesis in Port Huron the first question was, why there? By the end of the night those same people agreed that there was no better place on earth to host the event. With the Blue Water Bridge as a scenic backdrop the town of Port Huron welcomed us with open arms. … The team at the BWFF treated the cast and crew like royalty. Wonderful accommodations, limousines, a red carpet, gift baskets, autograph sessions, paparazzi, national media coverage, an army of zombies and best of all an audience most A-List filmmakers only dream of… This was better than any Hollywood premiere. As wonderful as all those things were, it was something else that made this event so special. It was the people. It was the staff at the BWFF and the residents of Port Huron that made this all so special. Simply put, take your movie some place special and you will feel special.

I liken Port Huron and the BWFF to our friends in Estepona, Spain and the Horror and Fantasy Film Festival they have hosted for 13 years! We’ve had the opportunity to screen at higher profile festivals in Spain but we prefer the hospitality and people of Estepona and Port Huron. In the end it’s all about the people. Once again, thank you everyone at Blue Water and the people of Port Huron for an amazing night we will always remember!”

2011 BLOG TESTIMONIALS

Mike White, Film Critic, Author and BWFF Special Guest – “I’ve had a wonderful time this weekend and feel that I should be presenting the festival organizers and volunteers with an award for the great job they’ve done in putting together such a fine, fun festival.”

2011 VOICEMAIL TESTIMONIALS

Scott G. Galeski, Filmmaker, “Protangeline” 2011 BWFF Official Selection –  “…It’s just no holds barred …a great time by all. Thank you so much for your hospitality, kindness and support.”

2011 PRINT MEDIA TESTIMONIALS

Devin Polaski, Filmmaker, “Melody” – “I got serious with filmmaking in high school and it’s great that the BWFF gives people like me the opportunity to showcase our work. It is nice to see the festival revive some of the cultural activity the city has been known for and I think it attracts a lot of attention to the area. There is always a nice variation of work and I don’t think people realize how wonderful an opportunity it is to see some great entertainment.”

Joseph Parcell, Filmmaker, “Being From Another Planet” – “This is the third year I have been a part of this event and it’s been a tremendous experience every year. I want to thank the organizers of the festival because without them we wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience all the great work people in our own state can do.”

2010 Testimonials

Tina Gloss-Finnell, Actress “Still Me”
I wanted to thank you all for the tremendous opportunity to get my film out there and compete in your new, professional and fun film festival. Having met all of you has been delightful and your commitment to exposing creatives like me to the BWFF is a wonderful gift to the emerging film Industry here and to Michigan at large.
I hope to see you all again in and around the many events for films and filmmakers and look forward to next year’s festival… hopefully, I’ll be involved again.
All the best and thanks again.

Steve Kopera, Filmmaker “Starlight & Superfish”
Just want to thank you again for putting together such an awesome weekend. Everything was so tight and well organized. It really made the filmmakers feel at home.
On a side note, Matthew Jure’s award may be more valuable than just a trophy on a mantlepiece. He wants to move to the States, but the immigration process is incredibly difficult for actors. He’s got to prove he offers something unique and special. These acting awards (he won a previous one a few years ago) definitely help show the immigration folks that Matthew is worth the price of admission.
Green card, here we come! So, thanks again, on behalf of both of us.

Robert Joseph Butler, Filmmaker “Spirit of Isabel”
I wanted to let you guys know that you truly did an exceptional job with the festival, as a filmmaker that attends a lot of film festivals and is also the executive director of one, I wanted to say that was an exuberant and memorable experience. I would also have to say it was the best festival experience I have had, and I have attended festivals all across the US. All I can say is keep pushing to be bigger. All filmmakers I talked with walked away happy. Here is to year three!

Again thank you so much for organizing a film festival that brings the community together and puts filmmakers first. The Award ceremony was also top-notch, the Q&As were engaging, I never attended a Q&A that lasted that long, and having Chris Gore just added a cherry on top. I will keep the entire team of BWFF updated on the process of “The Spirit of Isabel.”

Dave Fienup, Sound Designer “Spirit of Isabel”
Thank you for a wonderful experience at The Blue Water Film Festival! Your festival was right up there with the best in terms of networking opportunities, professionalism, and talent on the screen. I had a great time watching “The Spirit of Isabel” (which I sound designed), and the other great films in Block D…
I had a great experience, and was really treated like a professional. I was very surprised to find out this film festival is only a few years old, because it ran as smoothly as a veteran film fest.

Rick Dionne, V. P./ Gen. Mgr., Earl Smith Dist. Co.
I just wanted to say we think you did a great job putting together the Film Festival this year. I heard many favorable comments about the design and offerings of this festival versus others attended by writers, directors and producers. We hope to secure a placement on the Stella Artois national and international registry of film festivals for 2011.

2009 Testimonials
 

Ruth Flynn, Casting Director

 

I enjoyed the VIP party and the festival. I enjoyed your successful Film Festival and all of you should be commended on a job well done.

Denver Rochon, Filmmaker “Freezer Geezers”

Thanks for having us!  We had a great time and the turn out was terrific. As a first year fest you blew away many more established ones. Can’t wait for next year.

Robert Joseph Butler, Film maker – Writer, Director, Producer
I wanted to again express and tell you that  the Blue Water Film Festival had to have been my favorite festival I have attended so far this year. I have had my films screened at Detroit-Windsor, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Riverside-Saginaw and East Lansing. I still have the Flint Film Festival to attend to and that starts tomorrow. You guys treated us well, communicated to us well, and for the most part got us an audience! It was a great venue, with a great staff, outstanding shorts, and it was indeed a memorable weekend of my life. I will be submitting again next year, keep it up. It truly felt like a film festival.

Denn Pietro, Film maker “Freezer Geezers”
I have been wanting to write this email many times a while back, and the day I decided I would definitely make time to do so turned out to be the day “Freezer Geezers” was announced as the winner of the Audience Choice Award. I figured that day would be misinterpreted as insincere or that I wasn’t really planning on writing this email on that very day. But it is true.
I am not a fan of film festivals. I’ve had bad experiences being a part of them in the past and grew to resent them. I wasn’t going to submit to your film festival or to any other festival. Our manager submitted anyway. I wasn’t even going to attend. I reluctantly attended the kick-off party only because the other half of “Freezer Geezers” (Denver Rochon) wanted to go and offered to drive. I can honestly say that The Blue Water Film Festival revived my enthusiasm for film festivals not only as a participant, but also as an attendee.
Your film festival was arranged with high regard to both class and professionalism. You not only cared about your community, but also for the films that shared in your festival. From the moment I walked down the stairs of the kick-off party, I felt welcomed into the celebration. I knew at that moment that perhaps this festival could be different. And it was.
I sincerely thank you for accepting “Freezer Geezers” into your film festival. Port Huron was a beautiful backdrop to the grand theater that played host to the festival. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for the opportunity to view our film with an actual audience! I was in awe of their reaction and it served as a tool to help edit down the film based on their body language. I knew it could be cut down, but perhaps my closeness to the players made me want to leave everything in, but your audience was instrumental in deciding what scenes to shorten or eliminate. We now have a much stronger film that is just shy of sixty minutes.
It was truly an honor to be a part of The Blue Water Film Festival. I talked to some of the staff while I was at the theater praising the entire thing to the point of seeming over the top, but I really was completely impressed with all the details that made the experience so great.
Winning the Audience Choice Award came as a total surprise to us. “Freezer Geezers” is such an important film to me and hearing some of the people’s feelings about how the film touched them left me utterly speechless. I was on such a high after I left your festival. You have breathed new life into me and our desire to try to make “Freezer Geezers” a success.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,

 

Board of Directors

  • Jeremy Stemen – Executive Director
  • Kelly Kennedy – Vice President/Film Selection Chairperson
  • Ryan Charron – Judge Concierge
  • Scott Hall – Filmmaker Recruiter