The Traverse City Film Festival is coming to an end, founder Michael Moore announced Tuesday. Moore said the TCFF board "decided after much heartfelt discussion that it’s best to close this era of the film fest now while we’re ahead, no longer in debt, and go out on top with many years of fond memories that we will all collectively cherish for the rest of our lives."

Moore said in an email that the decision comes after "nearly 20 years of presenting one of the best film festivals in the country" and after a successful 2022 event in which "we finally broke even for the first time in years." He continued that with "a hopeful eye to the future, as each of us move on to other urgent projects that are necessary for the times we find ourselves in, we now echo the words of the great George Harrison that 'all things must pass,' and bid a loving and fond farewell to the Traverse City Film Festival of old that we all knew and loved so well and move forward to our next phase. We have voted unanimously to bring this incredible, moving and exhilarating endeavor to a sweet and graceful conclusion for now — the end of an era and the beginning of a new mission."

According to Moore, TCFF's top priority now is its two downtown movie houses, the State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay. "We will redouble our efforts and focus our attention on building back a post-pandemic audience and continue to provide great movies at these beautiful venues 365 days a year — creating, in essence, a permanent 'year-round TCFF," he wrote. "We reaffirm to you our belief, as always, that one great movie can change your life, and that powerful films can help change the world."

Moore concluded his email by saying: "So, we all move forward. It is a new time in need of a new TCFF. The film fest that we knew and loved is now a piece of wonderful history. It is time for us to invent something new, something bold that is progressive and sustainable and based in the belief that those who work in this city should be able to afford to live in this city.  We will keep showing great movies at the State and the Bijou. And together we’ll keep trying to make this world a better place.  My sincerest, deepest thanks to all who’ve been on this journey with me — and I with you. We’re not leaving. We’re not done. We’re just excited about what lies ahead."