The festival was created as an annual event in 2005 to help “save one of America's few indigenous art forms—the cinema".

The Traverse City Film Festival is a non-profit organization, and is funded by businesses, community groups and individuals, in addition to ticket sales accumulated by various events.

Traverse City Film Festival also showcases all volunteer music,[3] with over 60 regional artists featured in the 2016 event.

In addition, each night, a classic film was shown on a giant inflatable screen along West Grand Traverse Bay in the city's Open Space Park.

Comedy & Drama from Home and Abroad: The Beatles at the Movies (A 40th Anniversary): A Salute to Cuban Film: Shorts Programs: Dangerous Docs: Midnight: Special Screenings: Kids Fest: Free Movies at the Open Space:

Opening and Closing Night: US Indies: New Foreign Cinema: State Theatre Centennial Celebration: 50th Anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird: Union!

Our Salute to Public Employees: 100th Birthday Celebration of Roy Rogers: Tribute to Jafar Panahi: Lost Gems: Special Screenings: Kids Fest: Dangerous Docs: Experimental Film: Midnight: Kids Fest: Shorts Programs: Free Movies at the Open Space:

Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings: Hollywood Sneak Previews: Friends Only Screenings: Susan Sarandon Tribute: Wim Wenders Tribute: State Theatre Centennial Celebration: Occupy the Cinema!

: Women: US Indies: New Foreign Cinema: Dangerous Docs: Midnight: Experimental Film at Dutmers: Special Screenings: Kids Fest: Shorts Programs: Free Movies at the Open Space:

Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings: Documentary: American: State Theatre Centennial Celebration: Native American Matinee: Special Screenings: Kid's Fest: Foreign: Midnight: Friends Only Screenings: Robert Altman Tribute: Roger Corman: Orson Welles Centennial: Avant Garde: The Sidebar: Free Movies at the Open Space: TCFF Shorts:

Opening & Closing Night and Centerpiece Screenings: US Official Selection: Documentary: US Official Selection: Narrative Foreign Official Selection: Documentary: Foreign Official Selection: Narrative Avant Garde: Free Movies at The Open Space: Friends Only Screenings: July 28, 2016- A Day in History: Kid's Fest: Lost Gems of 2015 Men Make Movies- The Struggle Continues Michiganders Make Movies: Midnight: Premieres: The Sidebar: Food on Film: State Theatre Centennial Celebration Special Screenings: #tween: TCFF Shorts:

This year’s festival celebrated works from filmmakers all around the world, especially those from countries targeted by the US travel ban.

Mariska Hargitay, Noel Wells, Leonard Maltin, and Gilbert Gottfried were added to TCFF Walk of Fame this year.

Jane Fonda, Dick Cavett, and Leon Vitali were added to TCFF Walk of Fame this year, and Nick Offerman was able to Skype in for the screening of Hearts Beat Loud.