Special Jury Prize from Michael Moore!

We are delighted to announce that SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story won a Special Jury Prize at the Traverse City Film Festival. It was an incredible experience winning an award from Michael Moore and participating on his "Dangerous Docs" panel. It's kind of funny because SMILE isn't "dangerous" unless you imagine sword fighting with feathers. But the documentary does move audiences and generates discussion about an ideologically divided America over the past 40 years. This was one of the best festivals I've ever attended---the quality of movies to the quality of 1200 volunteer staff. It was an experience I'll never forget. Way to go, MICHIGAN!

Here are a couple of interviews at the Traverse City Film Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sVI0T0k_C4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16uaH4mOLUs

Enjoy!

Michael Moore's Film Festival in Traverse City, July 30

Is SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS a "Dangerous Doc"????? The Michigan premiere of SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS will be at the Traverse City Film Festival on Friday, July 30 at 12:30pm. Come join the fun with Dangerous Docs at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.

MILLIKEN AUDITORIUM
Friday, July 30 at 12:30pm
1701 E. Front St
Traverse City, MI

Click here for details and tickets:

traverse.bside.com/2010/films/smiletilithurtstheupwithpeoplestory_traverse2010

SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS to screen on Mackinac Island where Up With People began!

We are pleased to announce a unique opportunity to experience the history of Up With People on Mackinac Island, MI, August 1-2, 2010.

Few people know that Up With People began on Mackinac Island, MI. The Up With People sing-out cast sprang from hootenanny shows conducted by Moral ReArmament (MRA) beginning with a summer youth conference in 1964. The head of MRA at the time was a man named Peter Howard. J. Blanton Belk also helped organize the youth conferences. When Peter Howard died unexpectedly in 1965, Mr. Belk took over as head of MRA in the United States and continued to fashion MRA's Up With People/sing-out program. The Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island was among the impressive properties formerly owned by Moral ReArmament. There, industrious MRA volunteers built additions to the property that still includes the great hall, a theater and state-of-the-art film studio. Mackinac College was also built on site and was operated for MRA/Up With People youth and others until 1970. Click here for background, photos and exhibits.

In the “Tower” at Mission Point Resort, there is an historical museum in which you can view a photographic history of the key leaders in Moral ReArmament, including those who started, developed and maintained Up With People through the decades. The museum’s timeline ends without a full transition to Up With People, although you can see photos of the youth conference with attendees like President Gerald R. Ford. You’ll even see a young J. Blanton Belk performing in MRA plays. Painted murals include the familiar faces of the singing trio, the Colwell Brothers.

Among other themes, SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS documents the MRA mission to change hearts and minds, and then the transition of the Up With People program. The film includes historical and current day footage of the island property and the honest personal reflections of John & Patty Sayre. John Sayre, an Olympic gold medalist, along with his rowing partner Rusty Wailes, had prominent roles in inspiring the youth during these summer conferences and beyond. These summer youth conferences on Mackinac Island are among the unique and fascinating history of Up With People, and the Mission Point Resort and the Tower Museum are worthy of a visit. You won’t be disappointed.

To bookend screenings of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS at Michael Moore’s film festival in Traverse City (July 27-August 1), the Mission Point Resort is hosting a public screening on Mackinac Island on Sunday, August 1 at 7pm. SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS will screen at the very theater where MRA and Up With People/sing-out performances were held, and where part of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS was filmed. To celebrate this collaborative event, Mission Point Resort is generously offering a “get-away” package that includes:

* Two night stay (double occupancy), taxes (Sunday/Monday nights)

* Luggage transportation fee from the ferry

* Breakfast each morning for two

* Tower Museum admission tickets

* SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS admission tickets (Q&A with the Director to follow)

* Popcorn and a non-alcoholic drink during the movie

To promote the film, clips of never-before-seen archival footage that may appear in the Director’s cut will be screened at 3pm on August 1. A casual reception with the Director will begin at 5:30pm, just prior to the screening of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS at 7pm. The Q&A will follow the show.

The total package cost is $394. For more details or to book, contact Nikki at (248) 291-8871 or ncharbonneau@missionpoint.com.

Of course, tickets to see SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS on August 1 @ 7pm or to the Tower Museum can be purchased separately, and there is no cost to attend the 5:30pm reception prior to the screening.

If you're interested in the Up With People, Moral ReArmament or the history of Mackinac Island in any way, this is the event to attend!!!

HARKINS THEATER TUCSON SHOWTIMES July 27-31

Greetings!

If you live in Tucson, Arizona or plan to attend the 45^th reunion of Up With People, you can now see SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS screening at the local Harkins Theaters from July 27-July 31. It’s less than 20 minutes from the Starr Pass Resort going south on I-19 to Irvington. Harkins Theaters has arranged multiple showtimes to allow Up With People alumni more opportunities to attend. The film is jam-packed with archival footage, historical facts, and personal stories from a variety of perspectives. After the evening shows, please join us for a lively Q&A with the director/cast. Your views are welcomed!

SHOWTIMES:

Tuesday, July 27 @ 7pm (Q&A with the director/cast to follow)

Wednesday, July 28 @ 7pm (Q&A with the director/cast to follow)

Thursday, July 29 @ 11am & 2pm

Friday, July 30 @ 11am & 2pm

Saturday, July 31 @ 11am & 2pm

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door: (cut and paste the link in your browser)

http://www.harkinstheatres.com/movieDetails.aspx?movieId=71263

DIRECTIONS (or on google maps):

HARKINS TUCSON SPECTRUM 18

5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Tucson, AZ 85706
520-889-5588

Take Starr Pass road to I-19 south to Irvington. You can't miss Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 on the right.

Stay tuned for more news and we hope to see you there!

Up With People movie screens in Tucson starting 7/27

Great news for local Arizona fans: SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS will screen at Harkins Theaters in Tucson, Arizona during the 45th Up With People reunion! The evening screenings on July 27 and 28 will be followed by a Q&A with the director and cast members. Matinee shows will allow alumni to attend while also participating in the reunion. All screenings are open to the general public. Tickets go on sale soon so check back for screening times: http://www.harkinstheatres.com/comingSoon.aspx

This will be an event to see and discuss for days to come! Be the first to grab tickets while you can!

Avid UWP sponsor, James McDonald, dies at 87

Former GM president and CEO of General Motors, Jim McDonald, died on Sunday, June 13, in Florida. He was an avid sponsor, board member and supporter of Up With People, and was instrumental in raising funds to send UWP to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Without his sponsorship, many Up With People activities during Mikhail Gorbachev's "perestroika" or "restructuring" of the economic and political structure of the Soviet Union would not have been possible. During the Cold War, members of UWP believed that by performing in communist countries and representing a positive, multi-racial, multi-international cast on-stage, they made a difference by changing minds and hearts to Western values of freedom and democracy. Within a historical context, perhaps on some level they did. There is no doubt that the international friendships within Up With People remain.

It is our hope that Jim McDonald is honored at the 45th Up With People reunion in Tucson, Arizona this summer from July 28-August 1. It is richly deserved.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/business/16mcdonald.html?src=busln
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/538623.html?nav=5021

SMILE 'TiL IT HURTS @ TRIBECA CINEMAS TONIGHT 5/24 @7:30pm

For those of you in NYC, please join the entire crew for a screening of SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story tonight at Tribeca Cinemas. This is part of the Tribeca Cinemas Doc Series from Tribeca Film! Hope you can join the us for a Q&A and reception to follow. It's going to be a hoot!

TRIBECA CINEMAS

54 Varick St (at Laight St)
Tribeca | Map

212-941-2000

Subway: A, C, E, 1 to Canal St. | Directions

Read more: http://newyork.timeout.com/venues/tribeca/1115/tribeca-cinemas#ixzz0or7hAfbP

http://newyork.timeout.com/events/art-house-indie-cinema/341295/smile-til-it-hurts

Be sure to tweet and retweet us too! And FB it everywhere!