Blog: Film festivals

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival (HHM) is the perfect mix of independent film and live indie music. Still under the radar, but we’re starting to make an impact with our guests.

"I don't remember much of my two years going to Hell's Half Mile. That's how much fun I had." – Rider Strong, “Cabin Fever” and two time guest.

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. Our primary concern is community, and the filmmakers who attend our long weekend walk away with lifelong friends and future collaborators.

"I’ve been to SXSW several times, San Francisco, a bunch of smaller festivals all over the U.S. It [Hell’s Half Mile] feels like the real deal. It’s people who genuinely love film, love the independent film community. The quality and lineup is incredible” – Ashley Spillers "Arlo and Julie"

Over the last ten years over 100 directors, producers, screenwriters and actors have joined our growing audience. We provide travel and accommodations to a select number of filmmakers, plus all-access passes and catered receptions. All of our venues are within a few block radius and hotels are within walking distance, making it super easy to get around. Visit hhmfest.com for links to the venues and video recaps of previous festivals. We schedule events to help you with other filmmakers, musicians, movie fans, and our supportive local community. Our goal is to provide you with a professional, casual and fun experience during your stay with us, including unique outings that give you a taste of the local flavor. It’s the least we can do in return for providing our festival-goers with great independent cinema.

Once your festival experience ends, Hell’s Half Mile looks to the future. HHM alumni receive fee waivers for future projects and all-access passes for subsequent year’s festivals, whether you have a film in our program or not. We continue to support alumni projects through social media and newsletters celebrating victories and other milestones through our growing network of filmmakers and film lovers.

“Hell's Half Mile gives me warm feelings in my heart. The warm feeling in my pants is possibly unrelated. It’s worth every minute and it's the kind of festival that you make movies for.” – Kenny Stevenson, writer and actor, "Love, Sex and Missed Connections".

Guests are not left alone to fend for themselves amidst our rabid audiences and interested community members. Programmers and organizers are ever present and ready with introductions, recommendations and the occasional swift exit from oversharers. Bay City nights are filled with raw rock and roll sounds giving us the moniker of “little Detroit”, especially into the wee hours at super-secret-after-parties. Daytime in Bay City is cool Fall days with sunny riverside strolls or bike rides past historic lumber baron mansions. Or, there are always plenty of great films to watch. Its up to you!

Filmmakers are also encouraged to participate in panel discussions, receptions and other events. We continue to foster student and local filmmaking, which provides opportunities for guest filmmakers to present a workshop or lecture focused on a specific topic or specialty. Other guests are invited to screen our student and local short films and give constructive feedback to the filmmakers. This type of mentoring helps to strengthen local filmmaking and continue our relationships with area universities.

Hell’s Half Mile, ranked 27th in Moviemaker Magazine’s Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals of 2016. Just a prediction.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
After ten years, Hell’s Half Mile organizers continue to strive to be an innovative festival for genuinely independent films and original music. This festival is about connecting the filmmaker and the festival-goer. Period. Well, and parties too.

In addition to relentless promotion of films, Hell’s Half Mile recognizes and rewards films with jury, programmer and audience awards, some with prizes. Prizes include a cash prize of $1000 for the Grand Jury Award, as well as other valued prizes. Grand Jury Winners include the controversial “Lamb” (2015), the Icelandic “Metalhead” (2014), and the acclaimed documentary "Remote Area Medical" (2013). Past jurors include Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), Adam Busch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adam Schartoff (Filmwax Radio), Jasmine McGlade (Maria My Love), Joey Kern (“Super Troopers”), Geoff Marslett (Loves Her Gun), WAW Parker (Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench), Rider Strong (Cabin Fever), Leslie Raymond (Ann Arbor Film Festival), Mark Covino (A Band Called Death), Michael Dunaway (Paste Magazine), Joel Potrykus (Buzzard) and Jeff Meyers (Metro Times).

Each year we screen great narrative films, like the Midwest Premiere of Terry McMahon’s “Patrick’s Day” jury award winner for Best Feature at the 2014 Woodstock Film Festival, and winner of the Hell’s Half Mile jury award for Best Screenplay. Quirky comedies like James Westby’s “Rid of Me” and Neil LaBute’s “Dirty Weekend” have been big hits with HHM audiences. Co-director Mark Covino attended with the international hit "A Band Called Death" which won the HHM "Fest Best" award. Rider Strong has been a guest at HHM with four amazing films over two years, including “The Dungeon Master,” written and directed with his brother Shiloh and winner of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Best (Online) Short Film. Visit hhmfest.com for complete lists of all films presented.

Some of the great music we’ve had over the years connects our film and music events. Matt Pond PA joined us at HHM in 2010. This same year, screening at the festival was “Lebanon PA,” with original score by Matt Pond and Chris Hansen of Matt Pond PA. Another great band that performed at HHM in 2011 was The One AM Radio, led by Hrishikesh Hirway who also did the original music for the 2012 feature film “Save the Date.” Visit hhmfest.com for lists and links of previous music performers.

HHM, a partnership with the Bay Arts Council, utilizes a unique mix of venues including Bay City’s historic Mayan themed State Theatre, the Delta College Planetarium, and a turn-of-the-century red sandstone former Masonic Temple, saved from demolition by the Bay Arts Council. Likewise, the 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, to bring to our seriously appreciative audiences. We hope you’ll consider us.

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 to locals as Hell's Half Mile. "'Hell's Half Mile' was the strip of waterfront where lumberjacks used to go boozing and whoring. Now, a bunch of us from Hollywood go there for a film festival. Not much has changed." – Rider Strong

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.

From October 14th to October 20th, 2019, Portland won't just be the city of roses—it'll be the city of film. All for the love of film, our weeklong event is jam-packed with networking, workshops, guest speakers, film premieres, financing talks, director Q&As and more. There's a reason Portland is different. Come be a part of what MovieMaker Magazine calls, "one of the coolest film festivals in the world."

Past attendees and alumni of the film festival include Aisha Tyler, Mario Van Peebles, Joe Dante, Sam Hamm, Mark Boone Junior, Eli Roth, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Abby Elliott, Chris Williams, Chuck Palahniuk, Jason Mamoa, Doug Benson, Sally Kirkland, Joshua McDermitt, Wendy Froud, Brian Froud, Toby Froud, Vanna White, Penny Lane, Chelsea Cain, Daniel Wilson, Chelsey Reist, Isaac Feder, James Franco, Lorenza Izzo, Matt Walsh, Susan Sarandon, Michael Tully, Ryan Murdock, Kelly Reichardt, Kris Kaczor, Bryan Storkel, Leah Warshawski, Daryl Hannah, Vivian Norris, Karney Hatch, Jon Matthews, Dana Nachman, Mitchell Jackson, John Jeffcoat, Shawn Telford, Leah Meyerhoff, Mark Raso, David Zellner, Bradley King and more.

Shorts@Fringe is a showcase of short films at the Azores Fringe Festival, an international arts festival in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Program will happen in various islands from indoor to outdoor venues giving the opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their work in the Azores and also for audiences that otherwise would not have a chance to see this type of work. All type of shorts are welcome from 1 min to 15 minute long of English or Portuguese language or subtitled in one of those languages.

The Torrelavega International Short Film Festival , organized by the Department of Culture of the City Council, was born in the spring of 2000 with the entry of the new century.

Torrelavega is likely to be one of the few Spanish cities that can boast of being a pioneer in this world as they speak of cinema, international festivals, filmmakers encounter and exchange of knowledge is not new in this city. Before the proliferation of competitions and short film festivals in Spain, Torrelavega lived more than twenty editions Film Festival Sniace precursor in Spain of independent cinema and similar initiatives. This led to the birth of filmmakers who reported the name of Torrelavega in different national and international festivals, obtaining numerous awards. Interestingly, the growth of the city, the cultural dynamism and new habits left her without cinemas and film such cultural needs, values ​​of a new generation and vocation film ever made this festival was born.

Some idea of the journey on foot to explore the world and its mythical roads , respecting nature and people.

This festival is an opportunity to share our passion and spirit of adventure travel.

Only for Argentinian Filmmakers and resident foreigners.

The festival has an international character and all authors with films in compliance with other propositions can participate. Films selected for competition will be judged in two categories:

1. FILM RECIPE - a sort of documentary that should display complete image and/or text instructions for preparation of culinary creations (meals, drinks or deserts), including information about required ingredients and sequence of work. Based on those, after watching film one should be able to prepare the recipe.

2. OPEN CATEGORY - a film that should thematize or depict content related to food and/or drink.

Duration of individual films submitted is limited to 15 minutes.

The 1st Festival «Film & Photo by Drone» (DFPF) organised by ASBL Cercle d’Arts et Un Talent Se Dévoile will take place at the airfield of Saint-Hubert from 3rd to 5th June 2016.

Un Talent Se Dévoile is a new not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote young artists, and the Cercle d’Arts is a cultural association, benefitting from financial support and recognition from many public and private, Belgian and foreign, institutions.

The competition is offers 5,000 euros worth of cash and other prizes offered by our partners.

1. The objectives of DFPF:

To promote the production of images taken by drone encouraged through a competition

To promote works that combine technical and aesthetic innovation in the field of cinema and general picture creation

To bring together professional and amateur photographers and filmmakers passionate about aerial images

To foster the relationship between all involved in the drone photography and cinema world, whether directors or producers, and public authorities

To highlight the potential of drones and the various possible areas for shooting

To educate the general public about the use of drones in different sectors of image production by promoting a selection of films and movies.

2. Target audience:

All filmmakers and producers whether they are amateurs or professionals.

3. FILM CATEGORIES: 6 categories short movies

1 - Fiction
2 - Nature - Documentary
3 - Sport - Extreme Sport
4 - Tourism - Travel
5 - Architecture
6 - Clip-Institutional Advertising

The films submitted must have at least 10% of their images produced by drone and these images need to have been shot in compliance with the legislation in force on the location(s) of the shooting(s). The image shooting locations, the dates and equipment used will need to be disclosed on a compulsory basis.
Amateur or professional candidates may submit one film per category.

The jury reserves the right to reclassify the choice of the category.

The films will be evaluated according to the following criteria: quality of the images, quality of the photography, quality of the realisation, quality of the direction.

The movies that will not be part of the official selection will have the opportunity to be presented out of competition.

“MASTER OF ART” FILM FESTIVAL 2024

MISSION

Master of Art Film Festival is unique cultural event and the only in Eastern Europe international film festival for Documentaries on Art. It takes place in Bulgaria – Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna.

The festival focuses on different artistic approaches on Art.

Its program is dedicated to Documentary cinema that represents the artistic vision both on history of Art, Contemporary Art forms and to celebrate the multicultural diversity in our time.

Our goal is to show documentaries that manifest the talents and the creative process in the following categories: Architecture, Design and Fashion, Art and Power, Contemporary art, Culinary art, Fine Art, Photography, Literature, Music and Dance, Theatre and Cinema.

Documentaries produced and released after January 1, 2022 are eligible to the competition of Master of Art Film Festival. The festival pays attention also on modern tendencies in Video Art and Advertising.

The mission of Master of Art Film Festival is to create an alternative platform to the mass culture. We want to create an opportunity and to contribute a dialogue and cooperation between artists. The festival is the biggest forum in Eastern Europe for young documentary filmmakers, tempted to tell inspiring stories about the Art.

Master of Art Film Festival is organized by Spotlight Production Company, The National Palace of Culture and ‘Master of Art’ Foundation with the financial support of Municipality of Sofia, AURUBIS BULGARIA, Bulgarian National Film Center and etc.

The festival funds are raised by participation fees, financial subsidies, donations, sponsorship and tickets.
The 8th edition of the festival will take place in а hybrid form - simuntaneusly online and with screening in Art cinemas:
• 9 - 29 February 2024 - Screenings online on a special Festival platform available only from Bulgaria and in Art cinemas in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Stara Zagora.

• Summer edition - August/September 2024 in open air places.

The OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel is given to all films selected in the following categories:

“OFFICIAL SELECTION – COMPETITION” laurel
COMPETITION CATEGORIES – DOCUMENTARIES

I. ARCHITECTURE - documentaries for architects, past and present architectural achievements and historic buildings.

II. ART and CHILDREN - documentaries about the relationship between the art and children

III. ART and POWER - documentaries about the relationship between the artists and totalitarian regimes and politic.

IIII. CONTEMPORARY ART - documentaries about contemporary art the art of XX and XXI century.

V. CULINARY ART - documentaries on the art of preparation, cooking and serving food.

VI. DESIGN and FASHION – Interion designers, fashion designers and their works.
VII. FINE ART - documentaries about the Fine Art from different eras, galleries and exhibitions.

VIII. LITERATURE - documentaries about writers, poets, their works and libraries.
IX. MUSIC and DANCE - documentaries about music, composers and musicians - opera, classics, folk, jazz, pop and rock; dancers and choreographers - ballet, folk, traditional and contemporary dance.
X. PHOTOGRAPHY - documentaries about the Art of Photography, photographed historic events and Photographers.

XI. THEATRE and CINEMA - documentaries about theatre, acting challenges on stage; notable filmmakers and actors.

COMPETITION CATEGORY – VIDEO ART and ART ADVERTISING

(This category has a separate Award and the submitted videos are not competing with the documentaries and video games in the other categories.)

XII.VIDEO ART and ART ADVERTISING – video art, experimental videos, art advertisings and Advertisement.

“OFFICIAL SELECTION – OUT of COMPETITION” laurel
OUT of COMPETITION CATEGORY

XV.ART HORIZONS - Documentaries that are highly appreciated by the preselecting committee.

INTRODUCTION

The Festival considers entries of all genres from shorts to full-length features, and is held in 'Festival City, USA' right after the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Southern Utah. Within a 20 min. drive is Kolob Canyon of Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head Ski Resort, dry desert, sheep herders, ranches, red mountains, green mountains, and UFO sightings. The location is ideal for the vacation-seeking filmmaker. It is an artist's retreat for film, cuisine, parties, and workshops with approachable professional people. This emerging festival is held each Fall in Cedar City.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

To encourage the production of media in both the independent and professional market that portray the human race in a positive light, and to applaud original works that redefine media through innovation, creativity and sensitivity that both enlightens and educates audiences from around the world.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The International Red Rock Film Festival. The Red Rock Film Festival was formed in 2007 in Southern Utah, and quickly became a internationally recognized festival with award-winning judges and rigorous pre-selection process. It made MovieMaker Magazine's list of "Top Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in both 2009 and 2013.

DEMOCRATIC FILM SELECTION

All films are reviewed by members of our previewing committee and scored in Directing, Screenplay, Acting/Talent, Production Values and Post-Production Values. Local or international, friend or stranger, pretty or plain, famous or not: all films are given equal treatment and go through the same democratic film selection.

DEMOGRAPHIC

The demographic is well educated, consisting mostly of empty-nesters, college students and senior citizens. The festival also aims to find new films for the wise as well as quality films for youth, sports films and films with a message.

GENRE

All genres are considered. Although documentaries have been a predominate focus at the Red Rock Film Festival, festival audience often compliment the variety and diversity of films selected for the festival in Utah. Animation, arts, children, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, fiction, narrative, romance, sports, student, horror, suspense, mystery, musical, music videos, war themes, women's issues, family, and humanitarian films are all taken into consideration. Cultural diversity is also a highlight at the festival; African, American, Asian, European, Indian, Indigenous, Islander, Latino, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Spiritual, Yogi, and other philosophical, governmental, historical, and artistic cultures are to be explored.

COMPETITION:

All genres are considered including animation, documentary, experimental, fiction, music video and student-made films. The festival has several categories of competition, including unique subcategories of featurette and short-short.

The Program Directors may also select additional categories at their own discretion, depending on how many qualified entries are received.

ALL FILM DESERVES A HOME

It's all about how much we like a film and where we place them. We just want good, original film that showcases our mission. We expect some films would be great to release to the theaters, others for television, some for the classroom, for our film series, or a great premiere. To encourage the independent spirit, Red Rock strives to find a home for all films that qualify in competition. This gives the filmmaker a chance to give their work exposure even if they may not make the festival finals. The festival also hosts a mini-film market, special screenings throughout the year plus we make recommendations to other festivals.

FILM MARKET

The Utah Film Market is a small section from the festival where filmmakers and other industry professionals can view films on their own in the festival library or in special industry screenings given to select finalists and other favorites from the festival.

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16th Rodinia Short Film Festival 2024

Access Indie Film Festival is an online film festival that aims to showcase the best films from different corners of the world to an audience of film fans and filmmakers.

We welcome works that discover certain tendencies or periods of fine arts or their social context. Last but not least, we also expect films created by using artistic methods or instruments (e.g. animated and experimental films, features).

Rural FilmFest, member of Green Film Network (GFN), is an international itinerant film festival, which offers a current overview of international documentary film, fiction and animation in a short, medium and long format related to the rural world, ecology, sustainability and natural and cultural resources. Rural FilmFest is not a common film festival, it is a unique and unrepeatable event. It is a summer camp, with excursions, multi-adventure, geocaching awards ceremony (Yes, you read that right. As a filmmaker you will have to find your trophy at the closing gala via GPS coordinates), international coexistence, dance, party and lifelong friendships. It is the experience of your life and if you attend, you will not want it goes over and you will want to return next year... Just read the reviews to discover the opinions of other filmmakers who have attended the Rural FilmFest. If you have a fiction film, animation or documentary whether it is a short film or a feature film, do not hesitate to submit.

Docstown is an international festival, and welcomes documentary films from around the world.

The sixth edition of the 7th Moon Festival, International Festival of Long and short films, organized by the Association loi 1901 "The New Moon" will take place from Tuesday 26 March 2019 to Monday 1 April 2019 in Rennes. The films in official competition will be projected between March 26 and April 1, 2019 at night.

For all of its selections, the 7th Moon Festival will select only long and short films whose directors were under 31 years of age, at the time of the completion of the film.

Le festival du film sur l’environnement de Conakry (Guinee Conakry), première initiative du genre dans notre pays, se veut une rencontre de cinéastes guinéens, africains et internationaux pour constituer un front protecteur de l’environnement. Ce champ de rencontre permettra de confronter tous les deux ans les différentes approches des techniques cinématographiques appliquées à l’environnement. Il contribuera aussi et surtout à réaliser une analyse plus conséquente du phénomène de destruction de l’environnement reposant sur des approches aussi variées que celles des différents continents.

Champ fécond du donner et du recevoir, il aidera les cinéastes à découvrir et à collaborer plus étroitement sur un sujet aussi sensible que l’avenir de la planète.

XII International Short Film Festival "VISION" was first launched in Siberia (Russia) in 2007.
The Festival aims to demonstrate official selection films in three nominations: fiction film, documentary,animation; and includes an award ceremony and demonstration of films out of selection.

The Festival also hosts workshops by movie critics and directors, and meetings with creative professionals.

One of the wonderful traditions of the "VISION" Festival is the audience vote. Alongside with the professional jury, the audience gets to choose the best film by filling questionnaires.

The best film chosen by the audience is awarded a special prize.

The slogan of the Festival, "Share your Vision of the world", calls upon every young director to visualise his or her view on the world and share it with the audience. Each work is unique and addresses a certain category of viewers. It helps make the Festival programme diverse and versatile.