What’s with the name?
In the late 1800’s, a stretch of Bay City’s riverfront was lined with raucous saloons and two-bit hotels where turn-of-the-century loggers and shipmen would go to blow off steam and take in more than a little local color. This strip was known as Hell’s Half Mile.
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, hotel accommodations 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 History
After five years, HHM has grown into one of the country’s most innovative festivals for genuinely independent films and music.
Each year HHM screens great narrative films, such as romantic comedies “Lebanon, PA,” “Timer,” and “Friends (with benefits)”…edgy films like “Hysterical Psycho”, “Registered Sex Offender” and “The Auteur”…and docs like “Official Rejection”, “Run For Your Life” and “Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore”. We’ve also brought in innovative, cutting edge music, such as Great Lakes Myth Society, Canada, The Nice Device, Baby Teeth, The One AM Radio and Matt Pond PA.
HHM hosts filmmakers such as Australian filmmaker Christopher Weekes, who attended with his film “Bitter and Twisted.” Festival favorite “Dakota Skye” was accompanied by Producer Shaun O’Banion and Actor Ian Nelson. Television/Film Actor Laura Allen appeared with her film “Cherry.” Michigan filmmaker Sultan Sharrief was on hand for his audience favorite “The Story of Bilal.”
Each year HHM celebrates homegrown Michigan film by inviting students and local directors, writers, and composers at all levels. HHM has made it a point to showcase student work from Dodge College at Chapman University and the University of Michigan.