Traverse City Film Festival says they want to give up operation of the Bijou theater

TRAVERSE CITY- The Traverse City Film Festival is giving control of the Bijou Theatre at Clinch Park back to the city.

"So, it just became cost prohibitive. And it was the best decision to make sure that the State continues to be the pinnacle that it is," says Angie Fulton, executive director State Theatre and Traverse City Film Festival.

The film festival sent out a letter, saying they no longer want to keep their contract with the city-owned Bijou Theatre. This comes after they signed to renew the contract early in 2021 for another 10 years starting in 2023.

"It was very much a financial decision. When you're trying to run two theaters, nonprofit, and we don't have the attendance that we had, the city had construction right in front of the building, and it made it very difficult for patrons to come. And being that those were the factors. It just was kind of a heartbreaking decision," shares Fulton.

In letter to The Traverse City Film Festival patrons, President and Founder Michael Moore also wanted to let the city know who they feel should be the next holder, The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Chippewa Indians.

"It is something that really is a core value of the organization. Traverse city film festival is to be one with the community, involve the community and make sure that there's equality in what we do, making sure things are affordable and accessible. And it just made sense that this was land that originally was theirs. And having a presence right here in the downtown area was just a very smart, very unifying community recommendation to make," explains Fulton.

Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe says that is not a decision left for the traverse city film festival to make.

"There have been no deals made. There's not even been a final discussion of where the contract between the city and the bijou flash film festival is going right now. So, this was very confusing to everybody for that to have come out as a statement that this was what was going to be happening with the property," she says.

The mayor is open to the property going to the tribe, but there is a legal process that has to happen first.

"If both parties want to leave it, then there would be no reason for even the commission to take action on it. That would just be the end of a contract. After that point, what would likely happen is we would put it out for what's called an RFP. So, a request for proposal to see who else might be interested in the property. If there is an interest by the tribal council or the tribe in general. I know there's been talk of having a cultural center, which would be really great to have that right downtown in traverse city," she explains.

There is currently no timeline on when the contract will end.