Outrageous. Radical. Controversial. Home.
For 40 years women came to the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, a radical haven they conjured and re-built in the woods every August, influencing the global feminist revolution.
SYNOPSIS
UTOPIA: Borne of rebellion, unbridled freedom of expression and sexual liberation, MichFest reimagined the world and was the place to fall in love and heal from the impacts of patriarchy, racism, homophobia and ableism. Held on 651 acres of woodland in the American midwest it grew rapidly from a three day rustic camping event to a one week state-of-the-art celebration, hosting an incredible range of artists. Without corporate sponsorship money was tight, yet this scrappy resilient festival survived four decades. AGAINST ALL ODDS: Known for its progressive culture, the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival became the front line for many radical issues of the times. In responding to the needs, demands and conflicts of its diverse community of tens of thousands there was no shortage of hope and commitment. A dramatic turn in the 90s shed new light on sex and gender identity placing the festival’s founding intention for a “womyn-born-womyn” separate space in the spotlight. In 1991, a trans woman was asked to leave the land which launched a cultural flashpoint, leading to boycotts and contributing to its ultimate end in 2015. TODAY: Central to the film are multiple diverse interviews, and a reunion with veteran festival artists Canadian singer-songwriter Ferron, American poet-activist Staceyann Chin and Canadian comedian Elvira Kurt. Joined by Lisa Vogel the producer of MichFest, they come together at Kindred on the Rock, Staceyann's mountainous sanctuary in rural Jamaica “for artists, activists, and freedom lovers,” to look back, reflect and share their art.
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Director Statement
As a Gen Xer, I was raised in a radical era of visionary aspiration and lived on a back-to-the-land commune in the 70s co-founded by my parents. My worldview continued to develop influenced by my mother’s growing consciousness during the Second Wave of Feminism. These formative experiences fanned the flames of my own coming of age in the 90s as queer and feminist and as a filmmaker passionate about social justice and the natural world. I’ve been very aware of MichFest throughout my adult life but didn’t attend, this gives me the advantage of objectivity coupled by a natural connection. I’m honoured to be trusted with this significant story and to collaborate with a stellar team to unearth the past through a current cultural lens. My filmmaking approach will be informed by the Festival’s radical spirit of innovation and boundary pushing ethos. Our film will marry content with form to build an inventive narrative structure that conveys and invites a transformative worldview.
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Liz Marshall
Canadian filmmaker Liz Marshall understands the generative power of film as an instrument for consciousness raising. With a career spanning 30 years and a portfolio of more than 20 projects including critically acclaimed documentary features, impact campaigns, TV specials, interactive media and shorts, Liz offers immersive access to the frontlines of social change.
Collaborating with diverse teams, communities and influencers her feature documentaries are: s-yéwyáw / AWAKEN (a TELUS original; 2025 Canadian Screen Award Nominee for the Donald Brittain Award For Best Social/Political Documentary; 2023 Planet in Focus Audience Choice Award) MEAT THE FUTURE (a documentary Channel original; 2020 Hot Docs At Home On CBC; 2021 Canadian Screen Award Nominee for the Donald Brittain Award For Best Social/Political Documentary; 10+ global awards/nominations; Redford Center/Doc Society supported impact campaign;) MIDIAN FARM (2018, Liz’s Masters in Cinema thesis); THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE (a documentary Channel original; 2013 Hot Docs World Premiere; 2015 Canadian Screen Award Nominee for the Donald Brittain Award For Best Social/Political Documentary; 2013 Planet in Focus Best Canadian Documentary; 15+ global awards; 2014 Academy Award Long-list; Doc Society supported impact campaign); WATER ON THE TABLE (a TVO original; 2010 Planet in Focus Best Canadian Documentary; Gemini Nominee for the Donald Brittain Award For Best Social/Political Documentary.)
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Women Make Movies (WMM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau of New York State and accepts charitable donations on behalf of this project. Your donation will be spent by the filmmaker(s) toward the production and completion of this media project. No services or goods are provided by Women Make Movies, the filmmaker(s) or anyone else associated with this project in exchange for your charitable donation.
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