This past weekend I drove through an explosion of fall colors, across the rough Straits of Mackinac and through the Upper Peninsula until I landed in the vibrant and historic northern outpost of Marquette for the third-annual Fresh Coast Film Festival, an all-volunteer event for adventure cinema and celebrating the outdoor lifestyle, water-culture and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest.
Founded by Aaron Peterson and Bugsy Sailor in 2016, it’s an event where art and nature co-mingle passionately and connect audiences to landscapes around the world.
These comments will give you a better idea of how seriously awesome this Northern Michigan film festival really is …
- “Is the director here?” “Yeah, he’s the guy with the beard and the buffalo-plaid shirt.” “Which one?”
- “We’re about to get started, just a couple quick housekeeping items, please don’t step on any of the cords …”
- “Is that your beer?”
- “It was so nice out today, water temp was 48, waves were 10–15 feet, wind was howling.”
- “We’ll take another question–you in the back?” “Hi, what was the worst polar bear incident you had while shooting?”
- “Is that my beer?”
- “It’s like GoPro, Yetti Coolers and Goal Zero had a love-child.”
- “Can you tell me where Black Rocks Brewery is?” “3 blocks that way, but don’t rush—they’re running a little behind.” “How long over?” “It’s between five and forty-five minutes. You’ve got time.”
- “Loved the doc, can I get an autograph?” “Sure, does anyone have a pocket knife?”
- “You here for the fest?” “Yep.” “Where’d you come from?” “A remote island in Lake Superior.”
- “What’d you do?” “I’m a media consultant. You?” “I’m a National Geographic Explorer.”
- “Take it from this 70-year-old riding fat tires and volunteering to get more kids on bikes, you won’t regret it.”
- “What’d you shoot on?” “4 continents, 6 countries and one transatlantic tanker ship.”
- “Please pass the gravy.”
- “I’m a new volunteer, I’m not sure. Lemme go ask the guy in the bear costume.”