Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival

The 21st HHM Film & Music Festival is open to all genres and categories (narrative features, animation, shorts, documentaries, genre etc).

All entries must be submitted with an online screener (Vimeo, FilmFreeway, etc). If your film isn't on FilmFreeway, our preference is Vimeo, as it's usually the best quality and consistently reliable. Youtube does not do justice to your film!

All submission fees are listed in the deadline/fee schedule. We recommend that entries submit press kits including a short synopsis, a filmmaker bio, a list of the principal cast and credits, a production still and poster, and any other media information available. Any photo submitted may be used for festival promotion. Electronic files are preferred.

PREMIERE STATUS

Hell's Half Mile does not require premiere status and welcomes films that have screened at other festivals and venues.

For films that have screened or will screen in Bay City, Saginaw, or Midland, we prefer to present the local premiere. This helps us introduce new work to our audience and encourages stronger attendance and engagement for filmmakers. Local premiere status may be considered as part of our programming decisions.

EXHIBITION FORMAT FOR SELECTED FILMS

Selected films must provide MP4; H.264; 1920x1080 or 1080p; 24-bit audio at 48khz. Files may be delivered via download or on an unencrypted hard drive. Other file formats may be added and will be identified for all selected films.

Non-English language films must have subtitles.

The number, date, and time of screenings are at the discretion of the festival.

Film selection announcements will be made in mid-August. Early selections may be made and submitters notified before the posted final notification date.

If your film is in distribution and requires a screening fee, please do not submit to our festival without openly notifying us first. As a small, non-profit festival we have a limited budget, and unexpected fees are difficult for us to handle. Please email don@hellshalfmile.com to discuss.

Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival and it's nonprofit parent, Hell's Half Mile Events, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

If a film is accepted, the programmers request the right to screen the film for educational and promotional purposes, for a period of one year. And will do so, unless directed otherwise.