When the Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti (iFFY) was announced in January 2020, it was scheduled to take place at the Riverside Arts Center that April. A big worldwide something happened the month before, however, and the iFFY crew had to improvise, and the festival was held online and as a drive-in screening in a parking lot.

In other words, iFFY is malleable, and for this year's edition—which will run at the Riverside Arts Center, April 17-19—the festival welcomed changing things up a bit.

“Transformation and germination is really central to the festival this year," said iFFY co-director Micah Vanderhoof in a press release. "As the festival moves into its sixth year, we’re aiming to cultivate those elements which have resonated with the community and fostered a sense of connection, and incorporate new ideas and suggestions as we go. We hope to provide a space to share new perspectives, become inspired, and grow as artists, while remaining uniquely reflective of our Ypsilanti community.”

While iFFY brings in films from around the world, it also highlights some creatives here at home by kicking off the fest with Michigan-ish (April 17, 7:30 pm), a selection of short films made in our state—three of which were shot entirely or partially in Washtenaw County:

I Wish to Know Your Dreams (directed by Chris Ozminski, Ann Arbor)
Shadowing (directed by Okyoung Noh, Ann Arbor)
That Bolex Thing (directed by Paul Echeverria, Ypsilanti and Portugal)

The rest of the program includes:

The Tuba Thieves
(April 18, 4:30 pm)
Based on a true story, about people committing crimes between 2011-2013 to score the giant brass instruments from Los Angeles high schools. But this isn't really a story about thieves; it's about sound, listening, and what that means when you're hard of hearing.

Best of London International Animation Festival 2024
(April 18, 7 pm)

Body Betrays Itself
(April 18, 9 pm)
A collection of short horror and suspense films that deal with our mortal coils.

Union
(April 19, 1:30 pm)
This documentary covers the Amazon workers who unionized in Staten Island, New York.

An Evening With MLY: Media Live Ypsi Preview
(April 19, 4:30 pm)
A preview of a new multimedia festival, Media Live Ypsi, produced by C.Y.N.K. studio that's happening in the city from October 10-12. The iFFY presentation will include live performances, including Camille Casemier and Steph Patsula's Eternity’s Vast Pocket, Picked as well as Tobias Haus and Stephanie Osorio Emerson's No Quotes.

There will also be the iFFY Short List (April 19, 7 pm), a collection of "recent shorts selected by members of the iFFY staff and board"; the iFFY 26.2 Hour Filmmaking Marathon screening (April 19, 9 pm); and two workshops, one by 2024 Kresge fellow Tamara Finlay on stop motion animation (April 19, 1 pm) and one by Eli Rarey on funding for indie filmmakers (April 19, 3 pm).

Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp. 

The Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti (iFFY) runs April 17-19 at the Riverside Arts Center, 76 North Huron Street, Ypsilanti. Visit iffypsi.com for tickets and more info. (Shout-out to Iffy the Dopester for the headline inspiration.)