TCFF Madonna Tickets Go On Sale Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m.

Traverse City, Mich. (June 4, 2008) - Michael Moore announced today that the hottest ticket at this summer's Traverse City Film Festival - Madonna, in person, presenting her new film "I Am Because We Are" - will go on sale to the public this Saturday, June 7, at 11 a.m.

The tickets will be available to the general public, ONLY at the historic State Theatre box office in downtown Traverse City. No tickets will be sold online or by phone. Tickets are $25, and all ticket money will go to the Raising Malawi Foundation, a project of Madonna's that helps orphans in one of the world's poorest countries. A limit of two tickets per person will be allowed.

Half of the theater's 540 seats will be sold to the public. The other half of the tickets will be sold by lottery to those who belong to the Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival. Anyone can join the Friends, and those interested must do so by Thursday, June 12 in order to qualify for the lottery drawing. People can become Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival online at www.traversecityfilmfest.org or in person at the State Theatre box office.

Friends who would like to purchase up to two tickets to the Madonna appearance and film must send a postcard to TCFF Lottery, PO Box 4064, Traverse City MI 49685. Postcards must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 12. Postcards may also be dropped off at the State Theatre box office by Thursday at 5 p.m. Information on the postcard should include name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, and number of tickets desired (maximum two). The drawing will be held Friday, June 13 and winners will be
notified by e-mail or phone.

"After much discussion, we decided this was the fairest way to divide up these much-sought-after tickets," said festival executive director Deborah Lake. "We want to reward our loyal festival supporters while at the same time making sure that the general public has a chance to see Madonna and her excellent film. And we want to keep the ticket price affordable while still being able to make a meaningful donation to the Raising Malawi Foundation."

The festival and the State Theatre, both founded and headed up by Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, have been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from people all over the country wanting details about the tickets for Madonna, who rarely appears in such a small and intimate setting.

"I know things are going to be a bit crazy on Saturday," said Moore. "We are honored to have Madonna coming here to our small town, and the city leaders have cooperated with us so that all goes well."

Madonna's movie, "I Am Because We Are," is a new documentary that she wrote, produced, and narrates. It will be shown as part of the fourth annual Traverse City Film Festival on August 2, at 8:00 p.m. at the State Theatre. Madonna will introduce the film.

"I Am Because We Are" is Madonna's personal journey and meditation about the African country of Malawi, a nation devastated by poverty and disease but filled with a desire to overcome all that it faces. The documentary has been described as "searing," "thoughtful" and "powerful." The film features Bishop Desmund Tutu, President Bill Clinton and author/activist Jeffrey Sachs.

Details about the Madonna film and appearance can be found on the festival's website at www.traversecityfilmfest.org. This year's Traverse City Film Festival will run from July 29-August 3. The full lineup of movies will be announced in early July, with tickets going on sale shortly thereafter (Friends of the Festival get a five-day advance chance to buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public).

"I Am Because We Are" trailer

About the Traverse City Film Festival

The Traverse City Film Festival is a charitable, educational, nonprofit organization committed to showing "Just Great Movies" and helping to save one of America's few indigenous art forms - the cinema. The festival also owns and operates a year-round, community-based, mission-driven art house movie theater, the State Theatre. Founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore and co-founders local photographer John Robert Williams and New York Times best-selling author Doug Stanton, with filmmakers Larry Charles and Terry George rounding out the Board of Directors, the festival brings films and filmmakers from around the world to northern Michigan.

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I'll be attending the festival and will be blooging daily updates.