The East Lansing Film Festival honored founder Susan W. Woods during its 29th and final edition, celebrating nearly three decades of independent, foreign and documentary films in the capital region.

Woods, the festival’s director, received an onstage tribute during opening night Oct. 22 at Hannah Community Center. Board president Jennifer White and other board members presented her with an honor from the state of Michigan and delivered speeches recognizing her work, The State News reported.

Woods told the newspaper the recognition was “a total surprise.”

She decided to end the festival because of fundraising difficulties and the loss of its longtime venue, Studio C, she told WKAR. Woods said the theater had hosted the festival for 10 years before closing.

“Fundraising is just the most agonizing thing to do, and I just don’t want to do it anymore,” she said.

The festival’s official website listed Oct. 22–25 dates at Hannah Community Center for its final edition.

Opening night featured “Ernie & Emma,” a comedy-drama written, directed by and starring Michigan native Bruce Campbell, known for the “Evil Dead” series and “Burn Notice.” Campbell made the film independently in Oregon.

Campbell introduced the movie and answered audience questions afterward, according to The State News.

In a separate WKAR interview, Campbell called the festival’s ending “bittersweet.” He said it probably helped inspire other festivals and that independent filmmakers still have ways to reach audiences.

Marty Shea, a Detroit-based filmmaker who worked for the festival in its early years, told The State News he struggled to believe it was ending. Kate Wilson, a Lansing resident attending for the first time, expressed sadness about its departure and appreciation for the work behind it.

White first volunteered during the festival’s second year while studying film at Michigan State University. She credited Woods’ sustained effort with keeping the event going, The State News reported.

Woods moved to East Lansing from Vienna, Austria, after gaining experience with the San Francisco Film Festival and the Women in Film Film Festival. Over the years, she mentored students and filmmakers through the event.

Past guests included Michael Moore, Adrian Grenier and “RoboCop” co-writer Michael Miner, Woods told WKAR.

Although the festival will not return, Woods told The State News she hopes to organize a future film series at Hannah Community Center.