Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival
Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival is an annual independent film and music film festival held each September in Bay City, Michigan. The four-day festival includes feature and short film screenings and live music events.
 | |
| Location | Bay City, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Website | hhmfest.com |
History
editThe festival was founded in 2006 by festival director Alan LaFave and Tommy Jenkins. It was initially conceived as a way to bring independent film and music to Bay City.[1] Drawing approximately 600 people in its first year, by its ninth year the festival drew 3,600 people.[1] The festival is named after a stretch of downtown Bay City's riverfront known as Hell's Half Mile in the mid-to-late 1800s, when it was lined with saloons and brothels. At the time, Bay City was a big logging community. Loggers and shipmen would come into Bay City to spend their paychecks, gamble and get into fights on the Hell's Half Mile strip.[2][3]
In addition to independent films and indie bands, it includes social events, workshops, panels and a half-mile race.[4] Starting in 2015, the festival partnered with Seed&Spark for a Crowdfunding Rally, where filmmakers can submit upcoming projects for potential audience funding.[5] Films are screened at venues included the State Theatre, Delta College Planetarium and the Historic Masonic Temple.[4] Past jury members include Damien Chazelle and Rider Strong, and past musical acts include Matt Pond PA, Jamaican Queens and the Detroit Party Marching Band.[1][6][7]
With 2020 being cancelled caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, only the pop-up cinema & certain other events will be done remotely.
Award Winners
editJury Award: Best Feature
edit- Remote Area Medical (2013)
- Metalhead (2014)
- Lamb (2015)
- Donald Cried (2016)
- The Scent of Rain and Lightning (2017)
- Funny Story (2018)[8]
Audience Award: Fest Best
edit- Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? (2007)
- Dakota Skye (2008)
- The Happy Poet (2010)
- Irish Twins (2011)
- Missed Connections (2012)
- A Band Called Death (2013)
- The Bachelor Weekend (2014)
- A Dog Named Gucci (2015)
- Delinquent (2016)
- Stigmatic: Our Opioid Crisis (2017)
Programmers' Standout
edit- Bad Dog and Superhero (2007)
- More Shoes (2008)
- Lebanon, PA (2010)
- Maria My Love (2011)
- Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story (2012)
- Things I Don't Understand (2013)
- Universal Language (2014)
- Stuck (2015)
- Creedmoria (2016)
- Bark (2017)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Cole Waterman, "Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival set to celebrate 10th year in Bay City," Bay City Times, September 18, 2015.
- ^ David Nicholas, "Hell's Half Mile Fest Marks 10 Years in Bay City,"[permanent dead link] WCMU-FM, September 24, 2015.
- ^ Brandy Abraham, "Hell's Half Mile is reborn," The Valley Vanguard, September 30, 2013.
- ^ a b Robert E. Martin, "Festival Overview: Opening the Lens on the 10th Annual Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival," The Review, Issue 815, September 3, 2015.
- ^ Kaeli Van Cott, "Attention, Midwest Filmmakers: Submit Your Film to This Crowdfunding Rally," Indiewire, August 21, 2015.
- ^ Cole Waterman, "Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival announces recipients of jury, audience awards," Bay City Times, October 2, 2013.
- ^ Ryan Solecki, "Interview with Jamaican Queens at Hell's Half Mile Indie Music Showcase May 31st,"[permanent dead link] Sound & Silence, June 13, 2014.
- ^ @FunnyStoryMovie (September 30, 2018). "🏆WINNER🏆 "Funny Story" wins the GRAND JURY AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM at the 2018 Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival (@HHMFEST) 🎬🎉🍿 Thank you, Michigan! 🤗 @matthewglave @EmilyBett @janawinternitz @TotallySketch http://funnystorymovie.com #hhmlucky13 #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.