Express Yourself Over The Airwaves

Ann Arbor Radio hosts on-air fundraiser
for the Ann Arbor Film Festival


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 25, 2006 – An Ann Arbor first – The 107one
Request-a-Thon to benefit the Ann Arbor Film Festival will celebrate
free speech to close the funding gap for the AAFF.

Listen to Ann Arbor Radio Tuesday, August 1st, when the friends and
supporters of the Ann Arbor Film Festival team up to celebrate the
arts. Ann Arbor Radio will broadcast the first annual Request-A-Thon
from 6am-7pm, and listeners will be encouraged to request their
favorite songs in exchange for a donation towards the AAFF.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival received cuts to its state funding for
exhibiting films that certain special interest groups and state
legislators deemed too controversial. While some believe that films
from past AAFF festivals have been "pornographic," AAFF officials,
local and international artists, media personalities and political
figures do not agree with the accusations. Listen on August 1st, when
Ann Arbor Film Festival director Christen McArdle co-hosts the 13-hour
radio program, which will give artists and filmmakers the opportunity
to defend their controversial work and discuss the importance of
government funding for the arts, the freedom of speech, and
independent cinema.

The fundraiser will be simultaneously broadcast on WLBY (1290 AM), the
local affiliate of the local talk "Air America" network.  Listeners
will have an opportunity to win valuable premiums for different
donation levels.  Prizes include ticket giveaways to shows, festivals
and concerts, signed merchandise and song requests – including those
not normally heard on the adult alternative radio station.

Tune in, listen and call in to support AAFF, an Ann Arbor cultural treasure.

About Ann Arbor Film Festival
The Ann Arbor Film Festival celebrates independent and experimental
filmmakers from around the world.  Founded in 1963, the festival is
the oldest of its kind in North America.  Now in its 45th year, it
attracts over 2000 entries from filmmakers in over 30 countries, and
distributes over $23,000 in awards.  Created as an alternative to
commercial cinema and mainstream film festivals, the annual week-long
festival remains true to its original goal of promoting film as art
and honoring the artists who make it possible. This year's festival
runs March 20-25, 2007.  For more information, please visit
www.aafilmfest.org.

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Monica Converse
Ann Arbor Film Festival
203 E. Ann
Ann Arbor, MI  48104

734.995.5356
734.995.5396 fax
www.aafilmfest.org

The 45th Ann Arbor Film Festival
March 20-25th, 2007

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