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Posted on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.

Detroit Independent Film Festival features the work of four University of Michigan grads this week

By Jenn McKee

The inaugural Detroit Independent Film Festival — wherein indie filmmakers were invited to submit their work at no cost — kicks off on Tuesday, March 2 at the new Burton Theater, in the Chinatown/Cass Corridor neighborhood of Detroit.

More than 80 films will be showcased at DIFF, including the U.S. premiere of George A. Romero's "Survival of the Dead," and the event will play host to the first-ever Michigan Film Awards.

With four University of Michigan graduates among the nominees, it's possible that these Wolverines may get to take home some hardware.

U-M grad Cindy Chu is nominated for an MFA best actress award for the short "Qing Lou Nu," which will be screened March 6; U-M grad and writer/director Lance Kawas will have his film "Street Boss" (about a real Detroit mobster who was brought down by the FBI) screened on March 4 at 3:30 p.m., and Kawas has earned MFA nominations in the categories of best Michigan feature and best director; and U-M grads Wad'ih Arraf and Stephen Day's absurdist, MFA-nominated short "Forth, William" will screen on March 6.

To learn more about this week's festival, and see a detailed schedule, visit www.detroitindiefest.com.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.