A New International Film Festival Launches this Weekend in Frankfort.

The newly restored Garden Theater in Frankfort, Michigan, 30 minutes southwest of Traverse City will feature the best films from prestigious film festivals from around the world October 23 - 25.

Confirmed films in the inaugural festival include:

Adam, a comedy / drama film directed by Max Mayer: Winner of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Alfred P. Sloan Prize

Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes, featuring Jeff Daniels, Allison Janey and Maya Rudolph.

Adventureland, a comedy film directed by Greg Mottola: Featured in the Sundance Film Festival 2009.

The Dinner, a comedy film directed by Karchi Pelrmann: Winner of the Palm Springs Film Festival Best of the Festival Award and Winner of the Venice Film Festival.

Man on Wire: Winner of 2008 British Independent Film Award for Best Documentary.

Trouble the Water, a documentary film directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin: Winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival’s Documentary Grand Jury Prize.

The Commandant, a 12 minute film directed by Stephen Pell: Winner of the Grand Rapids, MI Film Festival Audience Choice Award.

Seraphine, a French full length feature directed by Martin Provost, Winner of seven awards including Best Film at the 2008 Cesar Awards

Tickets to the Garden Theater Film Festival are $35 per person for the weekend or $8 per film. The Garden Theater is located at 301 Main Street, Frankfort, Michigan 49635. Seewww.frankfortgardentheater.com for films and showtimes. Films begin at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Weekend packages and specials include:

$35 off a two night room rate at Betsie Bay Inn when the all weekend film festival ticket is presented at check-in. See www.betsiebayinn.com;

$35 off a two night room rate at Harbor Lights Resort when the all weekend film festival ticket is shown at check-in. See www.harborlightsresort.net;

Dinner and a movie offers and specials will be featured at various Frankfort restaurants including Coho Cafe, Dinghy's, Betsy Bay Inn, Tali Bistro, Villa Marine, and A&W Drive-In.

The Garden Theater was recently purchased by a grassroots community based ownership group motivated to restore the theater to its original glory of the Art Deco period of the 1920s. It was built in 1923 and has been in continuous operation since that time.