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Wednesday, February 6, 2019

FILM FESTIVAL FINANCIAL FOOT-DRAGGING? Six Months After Publicly Committing To Financial Transparency, Michael Moore Has Failed To Deliver

“Moore said that the festival was committed to becoming more transparent on all aspects of its business operations going forward and would be communicating more regularly and openly with TCFF members and the public.

“Beginning in a few months, at the end of 2018, we’re going to begin issuing annual reports,” he said. “We’re going to actually publish on the website not only the 990s (nonprofit IRS statements), but also the quarterly financial statements. You’ll be able to look at what the bank has, and what we have, and you’ll be able to see everything. That’s the way it’s going to be from now on.” 
August 4, 2018
Traverse City Ticker

Yeah, except it didn't happen like that...or at all.

After publicly proclaiming during a Q&A at last year's Traverse City Film Festival his commitment “to becoming more transparent”, festival founder Michael Moore has failed to deliver.

The November 15, 2018 extended due date for Festival's most recent IRS Form 990, (for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 and known officially as the “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax”), passed without Moore's promised disclosure and publication on the Festival's website.

In a response to my January 25, 2019 email inquiry, a Festival rep responded several days later, stating that although the 2017 IRS Form 990 report had been completed, it was “not yet available”.  

I was advised to “stay tuned”.

Facing an upcoming civil trial, and the spring kickoff of this year's Festival, it appears the event's financial challenges have not been resolved—or even addressed.

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