This year marked the inauguration of Solset, the Academy’s new sanctuary in Elk Rapids, with an opening set by Todd Aldrich. Vince Vaughn was cemented as the season’s MVP, and the gentlemen established a high bar for festival attire with custom Ron Burgundy orange bathrobes.

A fully curated 1980s experience featuring vintage attire, a custom mix tape, and Todd Aldrich playing a sunset lakefront set that ended in a Jimmy Buffett tribute. While Back to the Future was a powerhouse contender, Road House ultimately took the crown. This year also saw the birth of the Annual Shrimp Boil tradition.

The Yacht Rock theme reached its peak with a screening of Caddy Shack on a yacht. The “very aggressive” nautical attire nearly incited a brawl with a local resident. Walk Hard emerged as a surprise but decisive winner in a season characterized by heavy “hedging” and lake day trips.

Top Gun: Maverick was immediately inducted into the Elk Rapids HOF, rendering it ineligible for the season trophy. The Academy celebrated with a party-bus screening and Dan’s dedicated Top Gun mustache. This year also featured the historic reunion of Men 2 Boyz for their White on White album.

The festival reached a new level of cultural importance with a meticulously planned showing of Jaws on a water trampoline. The summer event was marked by epic laughter and over-served participants.

The surprise winter session introduced the iconic scripture, “you touched my heart.”

Facing the uncertainty of COVID, the Academy pivoted to the classics. The wives—Erin, Bonnie, and Nancy—seized control of the programming, introducing the “Tom Cruise” genre and the first-ever outdoor screening.

The winter session provided an unforgettable Pop Star scene where the men were grateful the women and children were in bed.

A landmark year that saw the inclusion of the kids for What About Bob?. Hot Tub Time Machine secured the win and provided references that would remain in the Academy lexicon for years to come.

Bonnie delivered a legendary recommendation with Mike and Dave, officially adding “The Hedge” to the Academy vocabulary. In a shocking turn of events, the season ended in the first-ever tie between two powerhouse contenders.

The introduction of Talladega Nights, an instant classic that perfectly captured the “Shake and Bake” energy of the festival.

A powerhouse year for film. Godfather Dan introduced the first-ever official festival t-shirt, marking the transition from a casual gathering to a branded cultural event.

The formative years of the festival where the “baby” was just starting to find its feet. Participation was still heavily male-dominated, setting the stage for the diversification that would come in 2020.

They said it wouldn’t happen, but pioneers Scott and Dan overcame the doubters and the mosquitoes to screen the first film in history. With this inaugural victory, a cultural movement was officially born.