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Thursday, March 26, 2009

MTU to host Northern Lights Film Festival Mar. 27-28

HOUGHTON -- The Northern Lights Film Festival returns to Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 27 and 28, in the McArdle Theatre on the MTU campus. This year the festival has two featured guests: Michigan Tech alumna Suzanne Jurva ('82) and film producer Bob Brown.

Jurva has just completed a new documentary about guitarist Billy McLaughlin and will present her film at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Changing Keys: Billy McLaughlin and the Mysteries of Dystonia tells the story of McLaughlin's debilitation by the neuro-muscular disorder Focal Dystonia and his amazing comeback after accomplishing the almost inconceivable feat of re-training himself to play left-handed. Jurva, who worked for DreamWorks and founded the mobile marketing company Starcast, will be on hand to answer questions after the film.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, Bob Brown will give a talk on developments in the Michigan film industry and the impact they will have on employment and careers in the state. Bob is serving his fourth term as a member of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council and has been very involved in developing the new tax incentives which will affect all areas of industry in the state.

The festival offers many fine films this year, including Sundance 2008 Best Documentary and Academy Award nominee, Trouble the Water (4 p.m, Saturday). All screenings and events will be held in the McArdle Theatre and are free and open to the public.

To learn more about the festival and the films, visit: http://director.hu.mtu.edu/northernlights

The festival is sponsored by the departments of Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts. For more information, contact Erin Smith at smitherin@mtu.edu or 487-3263.

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