Hell's Half Mile Film & Music

Please support Hell's Half Mile today for #givelocalbay2026! PLEASE LIKE and SHARE THIS POST on IG and FACEBOOK to spread the word, and to help us win the most creative post prize. Donate here: /organizations/hell-s-half-mile-events Give Local Bay is a 24-hour online giving campaign to raise funds for your favorite local non-profits. With your help we can grow our endowment fund through Bay Area Community Foundation. Check out all the amazing participating organizations..... / #givelocalbay2026 #FilmFestival #baycitymi

This Tuesday, May 5 👇 We need you. Hell’s Half Mile is part of GIVE LOCAL BAY and this is one of the biggest ways you can help support the future of the festival 🎬🎶 You can donate anytime… BUT if you want to help us win bonus funds, here’s when to jump in: ⏰ 12AM (Midnight) Be the first $100 donation → chance at $250 🍔 11AM–1PM (Lunch Rush) 5 donations = entry for $250 🎬 1PM–3PM (Most Creative Post) 👉 Vote for us on Facebook (we’re going all in on this one 😏) 🌙 10PM–MIDNIGHT (Night Owls) Let’s finish strong and surge late 🤳 BONUS: SELFIE CONTEST Post a selfie + why you support HHM Use #GiveLocalBay2026 Tag Bay Area Community Foundation + DM them #givelocalbay2026 #baycitymi #hellshalfmile

🔥🎬Calling all filmmakers🎬🔥 The REGULAR SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the 20th annual Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival is March 3rd. 🎥 All Genres Welcome 🎥 Year Twenty is on the way. September 24–27, 2026. Bay City, Michigan. Final deadline: April 1st. Submit now on FilmFreeway. /HellsHalfMileFilmMusicFestival Let’s see what you’ve been working on. #hellahalfmile #callforsubmission #callforentry #filmfestival #filmmakers

Hell’s Half Mile Film Series is proud to partner with the Bay County Library System for a special screening of the powerful new documentary The Librarians. As an unprecedented wave of book banning sweeps across Texas, Florida, and beyond, The Librarians follows librarians on the front lines as unlikely defenders of intellectual freedom, free access to information, and First Amendment rights. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kim A. Snyder (Newtown, Us Kids, Death By Numbers), the film reveals how librarians are becoming first responders in the fight for democracy, facing harassment, threats, and mounting pressure as censorship efforts intensify nationwide. From school board meetings to library systems under siege, The Librarians is a timely, urgent, and deeply human story about who controls ideas, and why it matters. Thursday, March 19, 2026 🕖 7:00 PM 📍 State Theatre, Downtown Bay City 🎟️ Tickets: $8.00 🎥 Film Details • 2025 | USA | Documentary • Runtime: 92 minutes

“Hell’s Half Mile is the perfect mix of independent film and live indie music. Our taste is eclectic, everything from quirky comedies to hard-hitting documentaries to emotional drama. Our goal is to find “the little film that could” — a bunch of them, actually — and bring the filmmakers together to take over Bay City, MI.” - @hhmfest Festival Director/Founder, Alan LaFave. “Hell’s Half Mile programmers are looking for the right mix of creative and challenging works, including those from underserved segments of the film community. We truly hope to expand the pool of films from which we make our selections. We want to select films from a highly diverse group of storytellers for our audience. “We’re honored to be one of the many film festivals to make the MovieMaker Magazine 25 Coolest Festivals list, but we really do pride ourselves on truly bringing the fun. From receptions to filmmaker luncheons to live music...we keep the energy level high. But we also leave time to relax and enjoy our downtown area, the riverfront parks and trails, shopping, and walking the streets in the early fall touring our historic architecture. Filmmakers enjoy their experiences with our audiences as well. “The Hell’s Half Mile audiences aren’t the jaded, over-exposed audience of some of the big festivals. They’re hungry and appreciative of great storytelling and genuinely open-minded to cinema from unknown independent filmmakers.” Hell’s Half Mile is currently accepting submissions for their next festival on @filmfreeway 🎞️

THIS THURSDAY @ 7pm!! Join us at the State Theatre for our annual installment of "It's Not Too Cold For Shorts"! We’ve assembled an awesome collection of short films that are a mix of comedy, drama, docs, and animation. This is a HHM fan favorite event, so we hope to see you Hellions join us for our annual tradition that's been happening since 2016. Tickets $8.00 Shanti Rides Shotgun Director: Charles Frank - documentary On Manhattan's jam-packed streets, NYC's most iconic driving instructor prepares students for the road ahead. Ragamuffin Director: Kaitlyn Mikayla - narrative A young female motocross rider, Ryan "Ragamuffin" Myles spends what seems like an average race weekend with her father, Mad Mike. But as the weekend unfolds, 12 year old Ryan is faced with a cacophony of challenges on and off the track. ETA Director: Henrick BC - animation Space pilot Marvin has the most boring job in the universe - but something lurks in the shadows of his space ship... [subtext] Director: Erin Brown Thomas - narrative Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking. Dumpster Archeology Director: Dustie Carter - documentary Self-proclaimed "Dumpster Archeologist" Lew Blink embarks on thrilling expeditions through dimly lit alleys where every item holds a story waiting to be brought to life. Tall Dark and Handsome Director: Sam Baron - narrative Varun discovers his girlfriend has a history of dating Indian men and can't shake it off. Such Good Friends Director: Bri Klaproth - narrative A recovering people pleaser struggles to break free from her old habits when she becomes entangled with her ex-best friend's family, testing her resolve and personal growth as she navigates complex relationships and boundaries. Bug Diner Director: Phoebe Hart - animation A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush, and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass. If you wear shorts to this event, you'll be entered into a drawing for a prize at the end of the screening! Special thanks to Jared Hart - the artist who created our graphic for this event.

THIS THURSDAY @ the State Theatre - 7pm!!  All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes This stunning documentary follows cutting-edge underwater drones as they explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the Great Lakes ecosystem on a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure, it shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before. We’re teaming up with the Saginaw Bay Sailing Association, Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, and Outdoor Driven to present an eye-opening Great Lakes documentary on the big screen.  Directed by: Yvonne Drebert & Zach Melnick  Where: State Theatre, Downtown Bay City, MI  Tickets: $8.00

Thank you, Michigan filmmakers and film-goers. What a night. Last night’s Made-in-Michigan Short Films event at the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City was a standout evening for the HHM Film Series. We had a wonderful turnout, and a lively group of filmmakers who joined us from across the state. It was a night that highlighted the creativity, craft, and unique voices shaping filmmaking in Michigan today. The films included: Lotus, Be Kind to Yourself, Merge, Ana Sees Her Dad, Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), Fowl Encounters, DIY, 35 Days, Virus.exe, and Me, My Dad, and the Thing in the Shed. Our audience cast their votes, and the Audience Choice Award went to Un Día Normal (A Normal Day). We also presented Jury Awards in four categories: Best Actor: Jonathan West, Ana Sees Her Dad Best Animation: 35 Days Best Director: Heather Turman, DIY Best Screenplay: Me, My Dad, and the Thing in the Shed After the screening, we continued the celebration at BarqueBC, where filmmakers and film-goers gathered for great conversation and fantastic food. Thank you to the BarqueBC team for providing such a welcoming place for our community to connect. We also announced the award winners there. A huge thank you to all the filmmakers who shared their work, all the film-goers who came out to support, and everyone who helps make the HHM Film Series possible. Nights like this show just how much talent we have in Michigan, and we’re honored to help share these stories with our community. #indiefilm #madeinmichigan #baycitymi

Join us this Thursday at 7 PM for the next Made-in-Michigan Film Series at the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City. We are showcasing an incredible collection of Michigan-made short films, each bringing a unique voice, bold storytelling, and the creative spirit of our state to the big screen. From emotional family stories and surreal sci-fi to claymation adventures and experimental animation, this lineup has something for everyone. Come support local cinema, discover new talent, and enjoy a night of stories made right here in Michigan. #madeinmichigan #indiefilm #hhmfilmseries #baycitymi #michiganfilm

 The Hell’s Half Mile 2025–26 Film Series kicks off this Thursday! We’re starting strong with a hilarious and heartfelt indie gem — The Baltimorons, directed by Jay Duplass.  Synopsis: A newly sober man’s Christmas Eve dental emergency leads to an unexpected romance with his older dentist as the two explore Baltimore together in this funny, touching story about connection and second chances.  Where: The State Theatre, Downtown Bay City  When: Thursday, October 16 at 7 PM  Tickets: $8.00 Watch the trailer below and join us as we kick off another incredible season of independent cinema right here in Bay City! #HellsHalfMile #HHMFilmSeries #BayCity #IndependentFilm #JayDuplass #TheBaltimorons #statetheatrebaycity

✨ The Purdy Family at Hell’s Half Mile ✨ These photos capture some wonderful moments from the Q&A following the screening of Pilgrim at HHM 2025. Written, directed, and performed by Doug Purdy and his daughter Scout, Pilgrim beautifully explores family, connection, and the creative spirit that drives independent film. We first met Doug and Brooke Purdy back in 2017 with their film Quality Problems, which quickly became an audience favorite. Having them return—and getting to meet Scout for the first time—was truly special. We absolutely loved having the Purdys in town for Hell’s Half Mile, and we hope to have them back again. Such a talented, genuine family, and a joy to share the weekend with. #hellshalfmile #purdyfamilyrules #purdycool #baycitymi #HHMFest2025

Moments from the Made-in-Michigan Shorts Q&A at the State Theatre 🎬 This year’s block captured the heart of Michigan storytelling — from the wild humor of Work Friends and C-Note to the creative spirit of Pure Magic and Shorthand, the intensity of Metal and Left on Red, the charm of KIKO, the nostalgia of There Goes Stacy, and the moving addition of Sorority. We’re so proud to champion local filmmakers and grateful for audiences who continue to show up for Michigan-made films all festival long — shorts, features, and everything in between. 💛