Ann Arbor wins lawsuit
The Ann Arbor Film Festival and the ACLU announced that they have settled their federal lawsuit against the State of Michigan, which charged the restrictions on State funds for the arts were unconstitutional. In what the fest termed as a victory, the State funding guidelines will now mirror the more flexible NEA guidelines. In exchange, the fest and the ACLU have agreed to drop the lawsuit.
The State of Michigan had pulled grant funding from the long-running festival when it determined some of the films in its slate were “objectionable.” It singled-out Crispin Glover’s controversial film “What Is It?” as “pornographic.”
“We are pleased that arbitrary guidelines will no longer be used to deny artists their creative rights,” said Christen McArdle, AAFF exec director (pictured right of Denver fest's Brit Withey).
Docu filmmaker and AAFF supporter Ken Burns remarked, “I am thrilled by this decision - it protects us all, even those who might be inclined to limit this great Festival's free expression."
The AAFF is the oldest North American film festival showcasing independent and experimental work. The 46th annual event will run March 25-30.
The State of Michigan had pulled grant funding from the long-running festival when it determined some of the films in its slate were “objectionable.” It singled-out Crispin Glover’s controversial film “What Is It?” as “pornographic.”
“We are pleased that arbitrary guidelines will no longer be used to deny artists their creative rights,” said Christen McArdle, AAFF exec director (pictured right of Denver fest's Brit Withey).
Docu filmmaker and AAFF supporter Ken Burns remarked, “I am thrilled by this decision - it protects us all, even those who might be inclined to limit this great Festival's free expression."
The AAFF is the oldest North American film festival showcasing independent and experimental work. The 46th annual event will run March 25-30.
Michael Jones is the film festival editor at Variety.com. 
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