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February 17, 2006Rolling out the red carpet, Traverse City styleOscar night party to benefit festival, Munson ManorTRAVERSE CITY - Tracy Kurtz loves movies. And she loves the Oscars; she's even attended the awards ceremony in California - four times.But most years, she watches the Oscars at home, on TV. Not this year. That's because she'll be attending the Traverse City Film Festival's first annual Hollywood Awards Night Traverse City. It's being held at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa when the 78th annual Academy Awards air live on Sunday, March 5. And it's a benefit for the festival and Munson Manor Hospitality House. Munson Manor Hospitality House was selected because of the work it does to help families dealing with a medical crisis. Each year, Munson Manor serves more than 2,800 families by providing them with affordable accommodations while loved ones are being treated for critical medical conditions at Munson Medical Center. Kurtz described being moved when, during a planning meeting at Munson Manor, she met a father and children who were staying at Munson Manor while the wife/mother underwent surgery for cancer. "It reminds you why we do these things - to take something with the glitz and glamour and excitement of the Academy Awards and know that the fun you'll have that evening is actually coming full circle to help the community," she said. On March 5, red carpet arrivals begin at 7:30 p.m., with the live broadcast on two large TV screens starting at 8 in the Michigan Ballroom. Attire is black tie optional. There will be door prizes, an Oscar-themed silent auction and raffle. Items include two tickets to the opening and closing night parties and every screening at the 2006 Traverse City Film Festival, framed Academy Award posters, autographed movie posters, spa certificates, autographed memorabilia and DVDs, dinners and movie tickets. And Film Festival founder Michael Moore's shoes. Yes, his shoes. "Michael Moore is donating the actual tennis shoes that he wore while he was filming 'Fahrenheit 9/11,'" said Kurtz, who is doing publicity for the festival. Tickets are $100 and include a heavy hors d'oeuvres buffet dinner to be served at 8 p.m., with a dessert, fruit and cheese buffet opening at 10 p.m., and a cash bar. "We have themed dining tables, with each of the Best Picture nominations as the theme," Kurtz said. "It will be an ethnic theme for 'Crash,' a Western theme for 'Brokeback Mountain,' of course 'Munich' will have Middle Eastern food, there's a black and white theme for 'Good Night and Good Luck,' and for 'Capote,' there will be more props than anything else, and basically, food from 1959." There will also be a Predict the Oscar Winners contest, though Kurtz will probably do a write-in when it comes to choosing Best Picture. While she really liked "Capote," her very favorite, "Walk the Line," isn't among the nominees. "It won at the Golden Globes. How could they actually omit that?" she asked. "But my favorite movie never makes it into the Academy Awards. "I appreciate that the others are all independent movies, and I think the ones that they chose were excellent, but ... I don't remember the line being that long for 'Munich.' I remember the three of us who went to see it. "I guess that's my only question - who actually comes up with these?" Still, Kurtz can't wait to put on her floor-length velvet dress - a gown she wore to the real Oscars a few years ago - and head to the Grand Traverse Resort on March 5. "I think it's going to be the event of the year," she said. For tickets to Hollywood Awards Night Traverse City, call the film festival office at 590-4871, or visit the Web site, www.traversecityfilmfestival.org. The second annual Traverse City Film Festival is scheduled to be held Aug. 1-6.
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