Hell’s Half Mile presents
HHM Film Slam
Write, shoot, edit, and finish an original short film in one intense 48-hour weekend, then see it premiere on the big screen.
At a glance
2026 Event Details
Kickoff
Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM
Hell’s Half Mile Office
1010 Adams Street
Bay City, MI 48708
Film Deadline
Sunday, October 25 at 7:00 PM
Upload the finished film to the location supplied in the kickoff criteria packet.
Premiere and Awards
Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 PM
HHM Film Series: Made-in-Michigan Shorts
State Theatre, Bay City
Entry Fee
$100 per team
Includes one ticket to the November 19 Made-in-Michigan Shorts screening.
Team Limit
Five teams
Registration is first come, first served. Teams may include as many members as needed, or a filmmaker may work alone.
Film Length
3 to 7 minutes
End credits may add up to one minute, for a total running time not exceeding eight minutes.
Please note: Changes, alterations, and corrections may occur up to one week before the challenge. Registered teams should monitor event communications for final instructions.
Our mission
Stop Waiting and Make a Film
The HHM Film Slam removes the usual excuses and gives aspiring filmmakers a simple framework to get out there and create something they can see on the big screen.
With a tight deadline, a few required elements, and no time to overthink, teams discover what they can do as actors, writers, directors, editors, and collaborators. The goal is to make filmmaking accessible to anyone who wants to say, “I made a film this weekend.”
The process
How the Film Slam Works
Register your team
Choose a team name and designate a Team Leader. Submit the online pre-registration form and the $100 team fee. Registration is limited to five teams and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prepare before kickoff
Assemble a volunteer cast and crew, secure equipment, and scout locations. A team may have as many members as it needs, and one person may also create a film alone.
Attend the kickoff
Each team must send a representative to the Hell’s Half Mile Office at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 23. The team submits its signed Team Leader Agreement and receives its genre, character, prop, required line of dialogue, upload instructions, and criteria packet.
Create the film in 48 hours
All film-specific creative work must happen during the Official Time Period, from Friday at 7:00 PM through Sunday at 7:00 PM. Teams write, rehearse, shoot, edit, add sound, render, and begin uploading their films during that window.
Submit the film and paperwork
Upload the finished MP4 to the location supplied at kickoff. Submit all required releases and paperwork to the organizers. On-time films that meet the rules advance to final judging.
See the films on the big screen
Films received Sunday, both on time and late, are scheduled to screen during the HHM Film Series: Made-in-Michigan Shorts on Thursday, November 19 at the State Theatre, provided they meet the event’s eligibility and paperwork requirements. Winners will be announced at the screening.
The assignment
Required Creative Elements
At kickoff, every team receives the elements that must be incorporated into its film.
Genre
Each team chooses its film’s genre through a random drawing. The finished film must fit the selected genre.
Character
The assigned character must be seen on screen. The film must make the character’s identity clear through direct presentation or context. The character’s name does not need to be spoken or shown in writing.
Prop
The assigned prop must be seen on screen. A picture of the required prop is also permitted.
Dialogue
The required line must be used verbatim. It may be spoken, sung, or written. It may appear in another language if a translation makes the required line clear.
Bonus Element
A bonus may be awarded for incorporating a Hell’s Half Mile Film Festival dialogue reference or image. It may appear naturally in a scene, digitally on a screen, on a poster, postcard, shirt, or during the credits.
Official Entry
The finished film must use its assigned genre, contain every required element, and meet the official runtime and deadline.
Before the clock starts
What Teams May Prepare
Allowed before kickoff
- Organizing the volunteer crew
- Organizing the volunteer cast
- Securing cameras, sound gear, lighting, and editing equipment
- Scouting and securing locations
Must wait until kickoff
- Writing the script
- Rehearsing the film
- Film-specific costume and set design
- Shooting footage
- Editing
- Sound design
- Rendering the finished film
All cast and crew must participate as volunteers. Production expenses are the sole responsibility of each team.
Production rules
Footage, Effects, Music, and Equipment
Original footage
All primary footage must be shot during the Official Time Period. Animation and special effects are permitted, but they must also be created during the Official Time Period.
Stock material and still photographs
Stock footage created at another time may not be used as primary footage. It may appear as part of a post-production effect or on a background monitor, such as a television, when the team has the legal right to use it and it is placed over or under footage shot during the Official Time Period.
Commercially available pre-made sequences or compositions may be used when most of the film’s frames contain content created during the Official Time Period. The pre-made portion may not include people or other performers. Still photographs are permitted and do not need to be created during the Official Time Period, provided the team has the right to use them.
Permitted stock footage, pre-made sequences, and still photographs require a Materials Release demonstrating the team’s right to use them.
Music and sound effects
Teams are encouraged to work with composers and musicians. Pre-recorded music and sound effects are allowed only when the team has the legal right to use them and provides the appropriate releases.
Cameras
Any type of video or film camera may be used, and there is no limit on the number of cameras.
Runtime and credits
Film Length and Required Credit
The film itself must run for at least three minutes and no more than seven minutes. The official runtime begins after the required pre-film slates and ends before the end credits.
Opening credits are allowed, but they count toward the seven-minute maximum. End credits are limited to one additional minute. The complete file may not exceed eight minutes.
Pre-film slates
- Five seconds of black.
- A title card containing the team name, film title, genre, city, and date.
- A title card stating: This film was made for the HHM Film Slam 2026, a 48-hour film competition created in association with Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. HellsHalfMile.com.
- Two seconds of black. The official film runtime begins after this point.
Required end credit
Every film must include the following statement in its end credits:
This film was made for the HHM Film Slam, a 48-hour film competition created in association with Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival, HellsHalfMile.com.
The required HHM Film Slam credit should remain in the film during future screenings, online distribution, director’s cuts, and other post-competition versions.
Delivery
Submission Requirements
| Deadline | Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM. The upload process must begin by 7:00 PM. |
|---|---|
| Preferred format | MP4. |
| Upload location | The final upload destination and instructions will be supplied in the criteria packet at kickoff. |
| Paperwork | All required cast, crew, music, location, and third-party materials releases must be submitted to the organizers with the finished film. Paperwork may be scanned and emailed to dawn@hellshalfmile.com with a link for downloading the film. |
| On-time films | Films meeting the deadline and all assignment requirements are eligible for judging and awards. |
| Late films | Late films received Sunday may still be screened if they meet the eligibility and paperwork requirements, but they are not eligible for judging or awards. |
Technical advice: Keep sound levels reasonably even throughout the film. Audio that peaks or varies sharply may be modified to protect playback equipment. Projection conditions also vary, so extremely dark footage may be difficult to see in the theater.
Permissions and releases
Required Paperwork
Releases protect your work, your collaborators, and the event. Keep copies of every completed document because submitted paperwork will not be returned.
Team Leader Agreement
Must be completed and signed by the Team Leader and submitted at kickoff. A team may not participate without it.
Team Information
All participating team members must be listed in the final paperwork and included in the end credits.
Cast and Crew Releases
Required for every person appearing in or contributing to the film. A parent or legal guardian must sign for participants under age 18.
Location Releases
Teams are responsible for securing legal access and appropriate permission for filming locations. Permits are not required for public property, but teams may still wish to obtain written permission.
Music Releases
Required for all music used in the film unless the team already owns the applicable rights and can document that ownership.
Materials Releases
Required for permitted stock footage, pre-made sequences, still photographs, artwork, and other third-party materials.
A film will not screen until the HHM Film Slam organizers receive its signed releases.
Team responsibility
The Team Leader
Every team must designate one Team Leader. This person registers the team, agrees to the Official Rules, signs the Team Leader Agreement, coordinates required paperwork, and accepts any prize on behalf of the group.
HHM Film Slam and the related HHM parties are not responsible for disputes between collaborators arising from or related to the challenge.
Recognition
Judging and Awards
Eligible films are reviewed using the judging criteria applied to Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival submissions. Creativity and originality carry greater weight than technical skill, although technical execution still matters.
Winning Film
The winning team receives a $300 cash prize.
Runner-up
The runner-up team receives 2027 Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival all-access passes for each team member.
Winners will be announced during the November 19 premiere screening at the State Theatre.
Official eligibility
Content and Participation Rules
- Entries must be original work created by the participating team and must not infringe the rights of others.
- Teams must own or secure permission for every copyrighted, trademarked, musical, photographic, recorded, or otherwise protected element used in the film.
- Entries may not contain obscene or pornographic material, defamatory statements, invasions of privacy, unlawful material, or content that violates another person’s or organization’s rights.
- Films do not have to be family friendly, but teams must use reasonable judgment and taste. Material that could not be screened at a mainstream local theater may be disqualified.
- Pornography and animal abuse are prohibited. Cast, crew, and animal safety must be protected throughout production.
- HHM Film Slam has sole discretion to determine eligibility, disqualify non-compliant entries, decline to screen a film, make a content announcement before a screening, or remove offensive or defamatory content.
- Teams should not distribute, publicly screen, or upload their film before its official HHM Film Slam premiere. Private team review is permitted.
- Entries and submitted documentation will not be returned. Teams should keep copies of their film and all paperwork.
After the premiere
Your Film Is Still Your Film
After its official HHM Film Slam premiere, get the film out there. Submit it to festivals, share it online, screen it, or create an updated director’s cut. Retain the required HHM Film Slam end credit in future versions and presentations.
Practical advice
Make the Weekend Work
- Assign clear responsibilities before kickoff.
- Keep the story achievable within 48 hours.
- Confirm locations and equipment before the clock starts.
- Use a short shot list to keep production moving.
- Monitor sound while recording. Poor audio can undermine otherwise strong work.
- Back up footage throughout the weekend.
- Complete a full version first, then use remaining time for refinements.
- Leave enough time to check required elements, export, verify playback, finish paperwork, and upload.
Project terms
Official Terms and Liability
Project Terms of Submission
HHM Film Slam, Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival, Hell’s Half Mile Events, their affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders, partners, employees, and volunteers are collectively referred to below as the HHM Indemnitees.
By submitting an entry, each entrant warrants and represents that the entrant owns all rights to the submitted entry, including the video or digital recording and the performances contained in it, except for assets provided by HHM Film Slam for use in the event. Each entrant also warrants that permission has been obtained from each person appearing in the entry to grant the rights described in the Official Rules and agrees to submit copies of those permissions to the HHM Film Slam parties.
By submitting an entry, the entrant agrees to the Official Rules and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the HHM Indemnitees from claims, damages, expenses, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, liabilities, and settlements asserted by a third party and arising from the entrant’s materials or conduct during or in connection with the event. This includes claims involving trademark, copyright, other intellectual property rights, publicity rights, privacy rights, or defamation.
The entrant also agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the HHM Indemnitees from claims that advertising, presentations, web content, or other materials later produced, presented, or prepared by or for HHM Film Slam or the event infringe rights associated with the entrant’s submitted work.
Participation constitutes agreement to these Official Rules, which are final and binding. The HHM Film Slam is governed by Michigan law, and all claims must be resolved in Michigan courts.
Limitations of Liability and Release
HHM Film Slam, Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival, Hell’s Half Mile Events, and the HHM Indemnitees assume no liability or responsibility resulting from participation or attempted participation in the HHM Film Slam, or from the ability or inability to upload or download information connected with the event.
They assume no responsibility for hardware or software errors; computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless, or Internet connectivity problems; limitations or failures involving service providers, servers, or hosts; faulty data transmissions; lost, delayed, intercepted, or failed email; website inaccessibility; Internet or website traffic congestion; unauthorized human or non-human intervention, including tampering, hacking, theft, viruses, bugs, or worms; destruction of any aspect of the event; or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility, or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the event.
HHM Film Slam and the HHM parties are not responsible for typographical errors in prize announcements or the Official Rules, or for inaccurate or incorrect information on the website or affiliated social media. Use of the website and social media is at the user’s own risk. They are not responsible for personal injury, property damage, or losses involving computer equipment resulting from participation, website use, or downloaded information.
By participating, each entrant agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless HHM Film Slam and the HHM Indemnitees from claims, damages, or liabilities arising from or relating to the entrant’s participation.
The event organizers may add to or amend these rules before the Official Time Period begins.
Take part
Register for the 2026 HHM Film Slam
Registration is limited to five teams and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Select a Team Leader and team name, complete the pre-registration form, and follow the registration instructions. The fee is $100 for the entire team.
Questions? Contact Dawn at dawn@hellshalfmile.com.