Community Calendar

Come watch Frozen Stupid 2: Frozen Water (NR). Filmmaker Rich Brauer joins us and snacks are provided!

In a special Lenten observance rooted in faith, history, and community, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Chalfonte Foundation, owner and operator of the historic Elk Rapids Cinema, will present a free, public screening of The Passion of the Christ on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Doors will open at 6:00 PM, with the film beginning promptly at 7:00 PM. Admission is free and open to the public.

The screening is offered during the season of Lent as an invitation for reflection, prayer, and shared experience, and as a tribute to two men whose lives—though lived in different places—were deeply connected through faith, mentorship, and lifelong devotion to children and community.

Media Contact:
Aaron Timlin
(313) 444-4588
aaron@chalfonte.org

The Tallest Dwarf follows filmmaker Julie Wyman as she searches for her place in the little people community and unpacks dwarfism’s impact on her own family. Through intimate stories, creative collaborations, and archival history, the film delves into identity and medicine, asking whether society should change people or the structures that limit them.

Directed and produced by Nick Geidner and narrated by actress and author Danica McKellar, The Library That Dolly Built takes viewers behind the scenes of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — the globally recognized early childhood book-gifting program that has mailed over 307 million books to young children, at no cost to their families. What began in 1995 as a local effort in Tennessee has grown into the world’s leading early childhood literacy initiative.

The documentary highlights the vision, infrastructure, partnerships, and passionate community members who have helped transform Dolly Parton’s dream into a worldwide movement for literacy. Backed by extensive research showing measurable improvements in early childhood literacy metrics, the Imagination Library has earned numerous national and international honors, including the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and recognition from the Library of Congress.

In our 5-county region, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library GTR is a nonprofit community partner whose dedicated team of volunteers enrolls local children and raises the money that pays for the books mailed to them. All children in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties are eligible to participate from birth until their fifth birthday. Today, 4,474 children in our community are receiving monthly books. That is 56% of all eligible children across the region. Although the program is free to participating families, it is fully supported by the generosity of local donors.

This film screening offers local families, educators, and community members an opportunity to celebrate the power of books in a child’s earliest years. A donation of $10 is suggested to help pay for the books mailed to local children.

EVENT DETAILS
📍 Location: Elk Rapids Cinema
📅 Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
🕕 Doors Open: 6:00 PM
🎬 Film Begins: 7:00 PM
🎟 Admission: Free and open to the public (A donation of $10 is suggested to help pay for the books mailed to local children)
⏱ Runtime: 1 hour 8 minutes
Community members of all ages are warmly invited to attend.

The inaugural Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City (FCFF/tc) brings four days of documentary film to seven venues across the North Boardman Lake District and downtown Traverse City, April 30–May 3, 2026. Presented by the local nonprofit Old Mission Culture Company, the festival features 50+ films celebrating the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, with nearly two dozen filmmakers attending from 11 states.

Highlights include two evening galas at the City Opera House — the Michigan premiere of the Mary Oliver documentary Saved by the Beauty of the World (May 2) and the northern Michigan premiere of Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (May 1) — plus artist panels, outdoor tours, student films, and passholder after-parties at local breweries. Day passes $35 | Gala tickets $20 | GA screenings $10.

Price/Price Range: $10–$35
Ticketing Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Presenting Organization: Old Mission Culture Company
Organization Email: traversecity@freshcoastfilm.com
Organization Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Designation: Not For Profit

The inaugural Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City (FCFF/tc) brings four days of documentary film to seven venues across the North Boardman Lake District and downtown Traverse City, April 30–May 3, 2026. Presented by the local nonprofit Old Mission Culture Company, the festival features 50+ films celebrating the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, with nearly two dozen filmmakers attending from 11 states.

Highlights include two evening galas at the City Opera House — the Michigan premiere of the Mary Oliver documentary Saved by the Beauty of the World (May 2) and the northern Michigan premiere of Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (May 1) — plus artist panels, outdoor tours, student films, and passholder after-parties at local breweries. Day passes $35 | Gala tickets $20 | GA screenings $10.

Price/Price Range: $10–$35
Ticketing Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Presenting Organization: Old Mission Culture Company
Organization Email: traversecity@freshcoastfilm.com
Organization Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Designation: Not For Profit

The inaugural Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City (FCFF/tc) brings four days of documentary film to seven venues across the North Boardman Lake District and downtown Traverse City, April 30–May 3, 2026. Presented by the local nonprofit Old Mission Culture Company, the festival features 50+ films celebrating the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, with nearly two dozen filmmakers attending from 11 states.

Highlights include two evening galas at the City Opera House — the Michigan premiere of the Mary Oliver documentary Saved by the Beauty of the World (May 2) and the northern Michigan premiere of Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (May 1) — plus artist panels, outdoor tours, student films, and passholder after-parties at local breweries. Day passes $35 | Gala tickets $20 | GA screenings $10.

Price/Price Range: $10–$35
Ticketing Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Presenting Organization: Old Mission Culture Company
Organization Email: traversecity@freshcoastfilm.com
Organization Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Designation: Not For Profit

The inaugural Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City (FCFF/tc) brings four days of documentary film to seven venues across the North Boardman Lake District and downtown Traverse City, April 30–May 3, 2026. Presented by the local nonprofit Old Mission Culture Company, the festival features 50+ films celebrating the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, with nearly two dozen filmmakers attending from 11 states.

Highlights include two evening galas at the City Opera House — the Michigan premiere of the Mary Oliver documentary Saved by the Beauty of the World (May 2) and the northern Michigan premiere of Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (May 1) — plus artist panels, outdoor tours, student films, and passholder after-parties at local breweries. Day passes $35 | Gala tickets $20 | GA screenings $10.

Price/Price Range: $10–$35
Ticketing Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Presenting Organization: Old Mission Culture Company
Organization Email: traversecity@freshcoastfilm.com
Organization Website: TC.FreshCoastFilm.com
Designation: Not For Profit