September 26 – 29, 2024

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Our Story

What's with the name?

In the late 1800s, a stretch of Bay City’s riverfront was lined with raucous saloons, gambling houses and two-bit hotels where lumbermen (and more than a few town-folk) would partake in debauchery.

Time has passed, but the same rough-and-tumble spirit of the day is reborn in the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Today, the city boasts a beautiful downtown riverfront with boutiques, restaurants, theatres, pubs, hotels, and other points of interest…. a state of the art planetarium, art galleries, a thriving business community, and an active shipping lane for Great Lakes freighters… Downtown Bay City is alive with activity.

Hell’s Half Mile Events is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and expanding the art of independent film, music, and entertainment. We strive to exceed expectations, while inspiring our community to participate in the arts.

Hell’s Half Mile is four days and nights of independent film, music and fun in Downtown Bay City, MI taking place each year in late September. After sixteen festivals, Hell’s Half Mile organizers continue to strive to be an innovative festival for genuinely independent films and original music. This festival is about connecting filmmakers and musicians with the festival-goers. Period. Well, parties too.

Bringing independent films, and their makers, to our community.

From garage rock to alt. country to synthpop to hip hop.

The Hell’s Half Mile Team is all about gathering friends in different places to talk film and music. The beach. A bar. A rooftop. A yacht club. A park. How about a vintage furniture store? Did it!

We try to keep the films screening and the music screaming throughout the year after festival has ended. Our Music Showcases brings indie music to Bay City from all around the Midwest. Our Film Series allows us to expand our independent film offering over a six month period. Both events keep our audiences engaged and continued to build it bigger and bigger.

Our Story

What's with the name?

In the late 1800s, a stretch of Bay City’s riverfront was lined with raucous saloons, gambling houses and two-bit hotels where lumbermen (and more than a few town-folk) would partake in debauchery.

HHM Today

Time has passed, but the same rough-and-tumble spirit of the day is reborn in the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Today, the city boasts a beautiful downtown riverfront with boutiques, restaurants, theatres, pubs, hotels, and other points of interest…. a state of the art planetarium, art galleries, a thriving business community, and an active shipping lane for Great Lakes freighters… Downtown Bay City is alive with activity.

Our Nonprofit Mission

Hell’s Half Mile Events is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and expanding the art of independent film, music, and entertainment. We strive to exceed expectations, while inspiring our community to participate in the arts.

Provide the alternative, entertain & inspire!

The Festival

Hell’s Half Mile is four days and nights of independent film, music and fun in Downtown Bay City, MI taking place each year in late September. After sixteen festivals, Hell’s Half Mile organizers continue to strive to be an innovative festival for genuinely independent films and original music. This festival is about connecting filmmakers and musicians with the festival-goers. Period. Well, parties too.

Film

Bringing independent films, and their makers, to our community.

Music

From garage rock to alt. country to synthpop to hip hop.

Events

The Hell’s Half Mile Team is all about gathering friends in different places to talk film and music. The beach. A bar. A rooftop. A yacht club. A park. How about a vintage furniture store? Did it!

We try to keep the films screening and the music screaming throughout the year after festival has ended. Our Music Showcases brings indie music to Bay City from all around the Midwest. Our Film Series allows us to expand our independent film offering over a six month period. Both events keep our audiences engaged and continued to build it bigger and bigger.

Hell's Half Mile' was the strip of waterfront where lumberjacks used to go boozing and whoring. Now, a bunch of us from Hollywood go there for a film festival. Not much has changed.

Hell's Half Mile has been, by far, the best festival we have taken a film to. They went above and beyond our expectations with their amazing hospitality. Alan and Don and the team are very communicative to the filmmakers, we always felt we knew what was going on in advance and on each day. The State Theater they use as their main venue is beautiful and massive. The quality there was great, our film looked and sounded amazing. Every day had some sort of party or gathering for people to network, and always included free drinks or food!! Hell's Half Mile was a joy to attend and will be a fest I return to with every future film I have.
Nicholas J. DeMicco
Filmmaker
Hell's Half Mile has been, by far, the best festival we have taken a film to. They went above and beyond our expectations with their amazing hospitality. Alan and Don and the team are very communicative to the filmmakers, we always felt we knew what was going on in advance and on each day. The State Theater they use as their main venue is beautiful and massive. The quality there was great, our film looked and sounded amazing. Every day had some sort of party or gathering for people to network, and always included free drinks or food!! Hell's Half Mile was a joy to attend and will be a fest I return to with every future film I have.
Nicholas J. DeMicco
Filmmaker