Before we get to our opening movie and music, help us kick off our 12th festival at the Pere Marquette Depot in Downtown Bay City. We're celebrating Movies. We're celebrating Music. We're celebrating Michigan with a little food, drinks, and fun! 6-8pm | Pere Marquette Depot | Cash Bar $10 reception only | $15 reception/film combo | […]
Jody’s grief at the loss of her parents turns to rage and fear when she learns that Billy, the man convicted of killing them, is being released from prison on a technicality. A confrontation with Billy sows Jody’s doubts about the crime and leads her to uncover skeletons in the closet of her cattle-ranching family. […]
Synthpop takes on a cinematic sprawl in the hands of these brother-sister sound auteurs. With Mimi Chavez’s supple vocals above Nino’s layered beats and synth melodies, the duo is nothing if not evocative and enthralling. Myriad rich tapestries deliver syrupy hooks that hit like a jolt to your emotional core.
Free! A filmmaking reel from the Fulldome Festival from Jena, Germany Creating immersive experiences for the dome theater has become a hot new field for creative filmmakers. The wraparound VR allows for transformative experiences in art, nature, and storytelling. Here you'll see a sampling of short film pieces from the world recognized Fulldome Festival.
This collection of four short films from the U.K. shows the lengths that refugees of oppressive and war-torn countries go to for a measure of freedom and security. A pregnant woman seeks transit out of Afghanistan; an Iranian family in Greece suffers under a cruel trafficker; an immigrant couple in London is visited by immigration […]
The Friday Night Rock Show is not to be missed. One venue. Two stages. Five bands. Willa Rae & the Minor Arcana (Detroit) Serpentine and spellbinding, this sextet summons a rough and tumble reinvention of Rust Belt Americana. Sewing together folk, blues, and country, they inject a punk fervor and gothic mood into a […]
When psychologist Michael visits the island home of his mentor Lionel, he meets Lionel’s daughter, Liv, who is a kind of conscientious objector of verbalism; she hasn’t spoken in years, though there appears to be nothing wrong with her. After Lionel succumbs to cancer, Liv finally begins speaking again, but in a surprising, archaic tongue. […]
Caco plans on surprising his girlfriend with a marriage proposal, but instead catches her in the act of cheating on him – worst of all with an Argentinean. Vadão, Caco’s best friend, drags him on a revenge trip from Brazil to Argentina. Vadão is in high adventure mode, while Caco is focused on getting his […]
Betty is a love-starved loner tortured by the indignities of her job as a security guard at an anonymous strip mall. She develops a crush on Danny, who works as a bartender at a failing dive at the mall. The stage is set for love and heartbreak, but that’s only half the story; the second […]
Open to Pass holders Only (All Access, Guest, Sponsor, Staff) Meet attending filmmakers, enjoy tasty bevvys and yummy appetizers. Music from Lightning Licks Vinyl Preservation Society and Detroit's Mega Powers. Scottish Rite Cathedral | Second Floor Sponsored By Ferne Boutique | Albert's General Store
Fiona travels to Paris following a letter of distress from her 88-year-old Aunt Martha. Upon arrival she discovers that Martha has disappeared. In an avalanche of spectacular disasters, she encounters Dom, the affable, but annoying tramp who just won’t leave her alone. Fiona searches for Martha with Dom a few steps behind in a film full of amazing […]
Remember Highlights, that magazine you perused in the dentist’s waiting room as a child to distract yourself from dread of the cavity drill? It’s still going, still a family business, and still based in a stately mansion in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Tony Shaff’s doc gives us a ringside seat for the production of the magazine’s 70th […]
The Michigan Film Office Advisory Council will be meeting at the Delta College Planetarium & Learning Center's Explorers Hall. This meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. We hope you will attend to see what the MFDMO is doing to drive the creative industries to Michigan. Michigan Film & Digital Media Office With a broader mission and an […]
Those not directly impacted by opioid addiction often find it easy to ignore. In this documentary filmed in Saginaw and Bay City, Garret Morgan shows how deeply addiction has penetrated the heart of middle America. In interviews with recovering addicts as well as those tasked with treating them, the film suggests this scourge can affect […]
Open to Pass holders Only (All Access, Guest, Sponsor, Staff) Take a short break between films and music and enjoy some social time with other festival-goers and filmmakers. More music from Lightning Licks Vinyl Preservation Society. More tasty bevvys and more yummy appetizers! All of this in the awesome Studio 23 gallery space. Plus, join us for […]
Bailey certainly can be forgiven a little road rage. She’s got an 8-year-old’s birthday party to prep for, an Alzheimer’s-afflicted father wandering somewhere around town, and a recurrent cancer in her left boob that requires immediate surgery. But with the help of good friends, her loving partner Drew, and a sense of humor as big […]
In the early 1970s Padraig O’Malley ran a bar in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while nursing an alcohol problem. During his recovery process, O’Malley became obsessed with international diplomacy; if war is a kind of addiction, he thought, perhaps peace could be accomplished by similar means to recovery from other addictions. Since then O’Malley has been instrumental […]
Phil’s a small-time videographer in a cold, flat town in the Midwest. When his boss sends him to shoot a swanky wedding in Mexico, Phil takes his pal Justin along to do the still photography (never mind that Justin’s barely ever picked up a camera). Pavan Moondi’s follow-up to 2015 HHM selection Diamond Tongues begins […]
Thomas is a typical teenager in his Danish town. He likes to ride his bike and horse around with his kid brother. He has a crush on Vikki, the bad girl at school, and a secret admiration for her gang of toughs. One other thing: Thomas makes bombs. When he marshals his skills to impress […]
After the sudden loss of a family member, three suburban siblings struggle to move forward. This sparsely scripted film is occasionally (and oddly) narrated by the family dog, Leadbelly, challenging us to make sense of its tragic circumstances along with its central characters. A stylish, intelligent, surprising debut from Anna Nilles and Marco Jake. Drama, […]
The Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival, along with partners Seed&Spark and the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office, is excited to present our 3rd annual Crowdfunding Rally, this year focusing specifically on DOCUMENTARY FILM. The Crowdfunding Rally creates the opportunity for filmmakers to capitalize on the excitement of film festivals by helping them convert festival-going […]
An afternoon drink between films accompanied by Celtic folk-punk. What could be better? This all-woman quintet brings a ramshackle, devil-may-care energy to their fusion of folk and Celtic punk. An early evening cocktail isn’t necessary to enjoy the set, but it couldn’t hurt to have one in-hand to toast these lasses as they belt out […]
Fiona travels to Paris following a letter of distress from her 88-year-old Aunt Martha. Upon arrival she discovers that Martha has disappeared. In an avalanche of spectacular disasters, she encounters Dom, the affable, but annoying tramp who just won’t leave her alone. Fiona searches for Martha with Dom a few steps behind in a film full of amazing […]
RACE DAY REGISTRATION: 8:45am – 9:45am RUN START TIME: 10:00am RUN FEE: $12.00 day of the race or register in advance at hhmfest.com/run LOCATION: Historic Hell’s Half Mile located on Water St., Bay City REGISTRATION & RUN START LOCATION: Corner of Water St. & First St. REGISTRATION INCLUDES: 0.5 mile decal, 2 Sunday Film Vouchers, […]
Remember Highlights, that magazine you perused in the dentist’s waiting room as a child to distract yourself from dread of the cavity drill? It’s still going, still a family business, and still based in a stately mansion in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Tony Shaff’s doc gives us a ringside seat for the production of the magazine’s 70th […]
Betty is a love-starved loner tortured by the indignities of her job as a security guard at an anonymous strip mall. She develops a crush on Danny, who works as a bartender at a failing dive at the mall. The stage is set for love and heartbreak, but that’s only half the story; the second […]
When psychologist Michael visits the island home of his mentor Lionel, he meets Lionel’s daughter, Liv, who is a kind of conscientious objector of verbalism; she hasn’t spoken in years, though there appears to be nothing wrong with her. After Lionel succumbs to cancer, Liv finally begins speaking again, but in a surprising, archaic tongue. […]
Bay City's own Kostka is capping off the music side of the fest. This local troubadour has built sizable grassroots rep in recent years, criss-crossing the country with his emotive brand of acoustic indie rock. On the final day of HHM 12, he’s bringing his evocative tunes to you for a matinee show at Tavern […]
Scheduled to Attend: Clayton Dean Smith (Off Track Betty), Michael Hilf (The Candidate) Compatibility Romance, Technology | 14 minutes Big data has revolutionized the way we decide what movies to watch, what restaurants to eat at, and what mouthwash to buy … why not our romantic partners? In Jack Marchetti’s short, a Facebook engineer uses […]
Two descendants of an Irish king journey to the island where he once presided — not to reclaim the land, but to surf the waves. Mark Covino captures the surprising, scenic, and brave adventures of a family estranged by time and distance, but united by a peculiar devotion to the dangers of the sea. Documentary, 82 […]
Jennifer and David aren’t exactly a New York power couple. While Jennifer’s star has risen with her first novel’s publication, her partner and literary mentor David has struggled in her shadows. When the two get separated on the way to a publisher’s salon in the suburbs, David is left to fend for himself amongst a […]
After the sudden loss of a family member, three suburban siblings struggle to move forward. This sparsely scripted film is occasionally (and oddly) narrated by the family dog, Leadbelly, challenging us to make sense of its tragic circumstances along with its central characters. A stylish, intelligent, surprising debut from Anna Nilles and Marco Jake. Drama, […]
Joe’s buddies have set the stage for a gonzo bachelor party with a cabin in the mountains and plenty of beer, but Joe arrives with the ultimate buzzkill: his fiancée has dumped him for another dude. To cheer him up, Joe’s posse gets the bright idea of kidnapping the dude and tying him up in […]
