MGP at Uptown Film Festival, Detroit

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Birmingham film festival benefits Gleaners food bank

Think metro Detroit doesn’t have Hollywood culture? Think again. The three-day Uptown Film Festival happens Thursday through Saturday, March 8-10, in swanky downtown Birmingham.

Films will be screened at the Palladium 12 and Uptown Birmingham 8 theaters, both in downtown Birmingham, with afterglow parties all weekend at various eateries.

But it’s not all about seeing and being seen: Proceeds from the event will benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, a charity that feeds the hungry.

Movie buffs can catch Michigan-made films that range from a documentary about the Reuther brothers called “Brothers On The Line,” to the romantic “Detroit Winter World,” thriller “Restitution Detroit,” and heartbreaker “Somewhere West Detroit,” among other locally made or locally themed films.

*A $75 festival pass gives participants reserved seats at every film screening — plus the culminating Michigan Film Awards Ceremony.

*A $100 Gala pass allows you entry into the VIP Charity Gala and Afterglow on March 9 that concludes with a screening of “Machine Gun Preacher” starring Gerard Butler.

*The $150 VIP pass includes entry into the VIP Charity Gala and Afterglow as well as reserved seats at all film screenings.

“We are screening more films and presenting twice as many events as last year,” organizers wrote on the Uptown Film Festival website. “We sponsor three afterglow events at some of the finest Birmingham eateries — Barrio, South, and the newly opened What Crepe? — (and) are offering up delicious cuisine and refreshments for your enjoyment.”

The Saturday night Michigan Film Awards Ceremony will include filmmakers from Michigan and around the world, who submitted more than 120 films this year. Nominations were narrowed to the top 60 shorts and full-length films.

All the nominated films will be screened during the festival and the best of the best will be honored during the awards ceremony.

Get tickets, showtimes and more at www.uptownfilmfestival.com.