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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted and updated April 15, 2004 Text and photo © 2004 press release from bernie larsen.*

Exurban to host "icedance" film festival

HOUGHTON -- Bernie Larsen, musician and owner of the Exurban, will present "icedance" -- an "underground" festival of independent short films to be shown from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Apr. 16 and 17, at the Exurban, 416 Shelden Ave. in Houghton.

Mavis of Duluth, an artist formerly of the Copper Country, is seen in this still frame from Frank Wyandotte's "Freed," one of the independent films featured in Bernie Larsen's "icedance" film festival Friday and Saturday, Apr. 16 and 17, at the Exurban in Houghton. (Photo © 2004 and courtesy Bernie Larsen.)

The festival includes films by first-time filmmakers of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Some are music videos featuring local musicians and bands, including Erik Koskinen, John Manno and Cry on Cue. Each night a different program of films will be shown.

"It is the first festival for me and as far as i know the first up here that is a broad film/video-based type," Larsen said. "It is called "icedance" as a spoof in line with the Sundance Festival and a reflection of the climate in the U.P. winter months."

Larsen noted the festival is something he plans to do as an annual event, although he also plans to do another one as soon as next fall or winter.

"There are quite a few people making or planning to make film up here, and having some purpose to do it can be the reason it gets done," Larsen explained. "I am trying to provide that for myself and others."

Here is the schedule for the "icedance" festival:

Friday, Apr. 16, featured works:

1."rise up" black eyed snakes*
2."think about her all night" erik koskinen
3."the game changed" michael truog
4. "diane hudock"
5. "the late great jake la botz"
6. "the spirit" don hermanson
7. "beautiful mess" brian joens
8. "a silent film" the newmans
9. "ghost" crazy mouse
10. "the calling" bernie larsen
11. "every dog has its day" marc chiatt

Saturday, Apr. 17, featured works:

1."formalities" jesse krank
2. "sorrowville" erica lord
3. "white trash shakespere" michael anderson
4. "the rescuer" mark revoir
5. "dream" cry on cue
6. "hymn" john manno
7. "freed" frank wyandotte
8. "toby's techno version" ryanpeters
9. "gymp" jennifer wilke
10. "the destiny of marty fine"

Tickets for the festival are $10 for a single night or $15 for both nights. Tickets will be sold at the door. If you are certain you are coming and want the Exurban to hold tickets until fifteen minutes before showtime, send an email to: spinout@chartermi.net requesting the number of tickets and indicating for which nights. The door will be open at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

*Editor's Note: The lack of capitalization in these names and titles is intentional, at the request of bernie larsen. Read more about bernie and the exurban in Adam Johnson's April 2003 article, "Bernie Larsen keeps local music alive at ExUrban."

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