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.

Hell's Half Mile
Film & Music Festival
LocationBay City, Michigan
Founded2006
LanguageEnglish
Websitehhmfest.com

History

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The 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

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Jury Award: Best Feature

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Audience Award: Fest Best

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Programmers' Standout

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ David Nicholas, "Hell's Half Mile Fest Marks 10 Years in Bay City,"[permanent dead link] WCMU-FM, September 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Brandy Abraham, "Hell's Half Mile is reborn," The Valley Vanguard, September 30, 2013.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Kaeli Van Cott, "Attention, Midwest Filmmakers: Submit Your Film to This Crowdfunding Rally," Indiewire, August 21, 2015.
  6. ^ Cole Waterman, "Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival announces recipients of jury, audience awards," Bay City Times, October 2, 2013.
  7. ^ Ryan Solecki, "Interview with Jamaican Queens at Hell's Half Mile Indie Music Showcase May 31st,"[permanent dead link] Sound & Silence, June 13, 2014.
  8. ^ @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.
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