When 13-year-old Tommy loses his parents to a drug raid, he turns to a phone sex operator (his fairy godmother) for help as he embarks on an urban odyssey to escape foster care with his two best friends, Steve and O’Neil.
*“Always a favorite of many HHM programmers, a film set all in one night, like 1-800-HOT-NITE, tends to add tension and a sense of real-time to a story. This film asks the question, what would your friends do for you when things look hopeless? And if that’s not enough, who do you turn to for help?”*
**Director, Writer:** Nick Richey
**Producers:** Trever Lee Georgeson, Ben Jagger, Zach Mann
**Cast:** Dallas Dupree Young, Gerrison Machado, Mylen Bradford, Ali Richey
Two brothers attempt to drive a trunk full of opioids from Florida to Alaska to cash-in big in the Land of Gold. A split-second act of violence somewhere in the California desert derails their trip and sets them on a crash course with tragedy.
*“The stark and desolate setting brings almost an otherworldly eeriness to this film. The desert becomes a character in the brother’s story.”*
**Director:** Scott Monohan
**Writer:** Dakota Loesch
**Producers:** Taylor Harrington, Gia Rigoli, Ethan Seneker
**Cast:** Scott Monohan, Dakota Loesch, Christopher Corey Smith
A real-time portrait of 2020 unfolds as an Asian-American family in Trump’s rural America fights to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, Neo-Nazis, and generational scars from the Cambodian Killing Fields.
*“At it’s heart, this is a family story. A story where the American Dream and the current cultural and political climate clash.”*
**Director, Writer:**David Siev
**Producers:** Jude Harris, Diane Moy Quon, Katarina Vasquez
**Cast:** Skyler Janssen, Michael Meinhold, Chun Siev
For over eighty-five years, steamship Ste. Claire transported generations of Detroiters to Boblo Island, an amusement park nestled in the waters between the US and Canada. When the vessel comes under threat of ruin, a doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save their beloved steamship from the scrapyard.
*“At HHM, we love bringing Michigan stories to our audiences. Whether nostalgia, current topics, or just great stories, Boblo Boats is one of the several MADE IN MICHIGAN films in our 2022 program.”*
**Director, Writer:** Aaron Schillinger
**Producers:** Steve Bannatyne, David Fabelo, Mike Madigan
**Cast:** Martha Reeves
When his best friend and creative partner suddenly couples off and moves away, an ambitious New York drag queen determined for the limelight must reinvent himself or risk becoming an irrelevant solo act both onstage and off.
*“We’re happy to once again partner with Great Lakes Bay Pride to bring queer stories to our local screens. The HHM programmers loved how this story explores the question, ``who are we with or without our bestie at our side?”*
**Director, Writer, Producer:** Todd Flaherty
**Cast:** Todd Flaherty, Wyatt Fenner, Joey Taranto
Margaret reluctantly goes back to her hometown with her brothers to deal with the sudden depression of their dad.
*“Dealing With Dad is a comedic look at the drama inherent in all families combined with the culture clash of foreign-born and American-born members.”*
**Director, Writer:** Tom Huang
**Producers:** Tanner Kling, Randy Kulina, Alan Pao, Brian Young
**Cast:** Ally Maki, Hayden Szeto, Peter S. KIm, Dana Lee
Jazmine Faries, a 32-year old woman with Down syndrome, is obsessed with soap operas, Barbie
dolls, and Matthew McConaughey. For the past five summers, her family has performed her original stage plays for a small audience in their town of Iron River, Michigan. Along the way we see Jazmine’s personal struggle for independence, her yearning for a romantic partner, and how a single spark of creativity can spread joy throughout a community.
*“HHM is rich with Michigan stories and Iron Family is another great example of this.”*
**Director, Writer, Producer:** Patrick Longstreth
**Producers:** Anne Longstreth, Sharon J. Wisnia
**Cast:** Jazmine, Chad Faries, Kate German
Amy, a lazy stoner with zero motivation and no ambitions, unknowingly buys a time-traveling marijuana vape. She discovers its powers and uses it to try to get laid. However, trouble ensues…
*“Sometimes you just want to watch a fun romp of a movie and laugh.”*
**Director, Writer, Producer:** Ryan D. Moore
**Producers:** Jared Carrdenas, Nicholas J. DeMicco
**Cast:** Rebecca DeMarco, Sophia Lucia Parola, Jared Cardenas
Exit to Quartzsite, AZ for cheap gasoline — there’s not a whole lot else. But every fall its population swells from 2,000 to hundreds of thousands. ONE ROAD TO QUARTZSITE is a vérité glimpse of this unique desert phenomenon. We follow an ensemble of snowbirds, crustpunks and lonely-hearts who winter there. A sad, funny, beautiful portrait of a cross-section of Americans all doing their best to live freely.
**Director, Writer, Producer:** Ryan Maxey
**Producer:** Josh Polon
**Cast:** Paul Winer
In the aftermath of a senseless act of violence, a young mother must learn to manage her overwhelming grief—not only for her own peace of mind but for the sake of her young son.
*"Producer Andrew Carlberg brings the HHM audience yet another great film. Previous films at HHM include the short Warning Labels directed by Jennifer Morrison and the feature Dirty Weekend directed by Neil LaBute and starring Matthew Broderick and Alice Eve."*
**Director, Writer:** Tyler Riggs
**Producers:** Andrew Carlberg, Kevin Welch
**Cast:** Dendrie Taylor, Michael Aaron Milligan, Jordan Cox
Lennon exists timidly on the sidelines of the thriving Columbus indie music scene, yearning for a personal connection that might shepherd her into the cutting-edge art scene. Enter Bobbi Kitten, an enigmatic, striking and talented half of a popular indie pop duo, who takes Lennon under her confident wing—unwittingly entangling herself in a dark obsession.
*“Bringing fim and music together is what we do at HHM. Poser features the music and members of the band Damn the Witch Siren who will be performing at the end of our Friday reception at MI Table.”*
**Directors:** Noah Dixon, Ori Segev
**Writer:** Noah Dixon
**Producers:** Drew Johnson, Joshua Nowak, Brett Reiter, Juli Sasaki
**Cast:** Sylvie Mix, Bobbi Kitten, Aujolie Baker
Showtimes: Friday, September 23 @ 6:45PM in So Good! Gallery
Sunday, September 25 @ 12:00PM in So Good! Gallery
Two hapless drifters, Frank and Bruno, team up with Linde to recover her land and trek across 1870’s Southern Arizona to find an elusive frontier musician.
*“Starring the likes of Lily Gladstone, David Arquette and Howe Gelb and featuring 12 different animation styles, long-time friend of the festival, Geoff Marslett, returns with this epic and time-traveling tale from the wild west.”*
**Director, Writer, Producer:** Geoff Marslett
**Writer:** Howe Gelb
**Producers:** Melodie Sisk, William G. Way
**Cast:** David Arquette, Kiowa Gordon, Frank Mosley, Lily Gladstone, Alex Cox, Trieste Kelly Dunn
Filmed in Traverse City, Quicksand is a Michigan-made "bromantic comedy" about two best friends who embark on a treacherous road trip after losing their best friend's wedding ring just days before the ceremony. Their secret quest accelerates into a loud exploration of life, love, and 21st century relationships as Ray and Paul enlist the help of everyone and everything they know to try and outrun certain death and just get back to their normal problems.
*“Supporting Michigan filmmakers is at the heart of our Made in Michigan programming. From Grand Rapids to the U.P., Quicksand brings the antics all across our great State.”*
**Director, Writer:** John Paul Morris
**Writers:** Jake Burgess, Broderick Steele
**Producers:** Mia Hagerty, Chris, Nick Loud
**Cast:** Wynn Reichert, Michael Alan Herman, Simon Elias
As various members of the Frank family come together for a college graduation party in Chicago, they find their bonds being tested – and strengthened – in surprising ways.
**Director, Writer:** Michael Glover Smith
**Producers:** Clare Cooney, Aaron Wertheimer
**Cast:** Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Cameron Scott Roberts
A failed work opportunity prompts chronically single Grace to pursue a one night stand with a stranger. Turns out he’s an on-the-outs professional athlete in town with a problem of his own.
*“Our 2022 Opening Night film, starring Andrea Bang from the Netflix series Kim’s Convenience, and Canadian heartthrob Joe Scarpellino.”*
**Director, Writer:** Renuka Jeypalan
**Producers:** Glenn Cockburn, Brian Robertson
**Cast:** Andrea Bang, Joe Scarpellino
Frida unexpectedly falls pregnant and Felix, the father of her child, breaks up with her to reunite with his ex using methods which are absurd, exaggerated and often hilarious.
**Director:** Laura Lehmus
**Writer:** Ruth Toma
**Producers:** Michael Grudsky, Markus Kaatsch, Nina Poschinski
**Cast:** Friederike Kempter, Lena Urzendowsky, Florian Lukas
Two childhood friends find themselves in Las Vegas on the same weekend, and one night together-with one life-altering favor - will change everything for them both.
**Director, Producer:** William J. Stribling
**Writer, Producer:** Marissa Flaxbart
**Producers:** Michael Tennant, Katya Alexander
**Cast:** Teya Patt, Michael Tennant, Kenny Ridwan
A dystopian coming-of-age tale focused on three kids who find themselves in an abandoned amusement park, aiming to unite whoever remains. With dangers lurking around every corner, they will do whatever it takes to survive a hellish Neverland.
**Director, Writer:** Shal Ngo
**Producer:** Natalie Metzger
**Cast:** Chole Guidry, Nhedrick Jabier, Carmina Garay
Mona, Theo, and Hanna live in an idyllic villa on the outskirts. When the attractive daughter of a friend comes to visit, the problems and fragility of the small family are revealed and a tragic downward spiral continues.
**Director, Writer:** Krishna Ashu Bhati
**Writer, Producer: **Eva Habermann
**Producer:** Alexander König
**Cast:** Marcus Grüsser, Eva Habermann, Caroline Hartig, Lilly Liefers, Emma Schweiger
A grieving woman embarks on an unexpected road trip from the Midwest toward the Texas-Mexico border as she grapples with the pain of her recent loss and seeks to understand her place in the world.
**Director, Writer:** Morrisa Maltz
**Producers:** Laura Heberton, Katherine Harper, Thomas Heitkamp
**Cast:** Lily Gladstone, Raymond Lee, Michele, Tom Allen
New Year’s Eve, 1999. Austin takes an extra shift at the Quality Mart gas station and is forced to look down the barrel of what it means to graduate high school and face a future stuck in his middle of nowhere Michigan hometown. He’s got one night to make his dreams come true, legal or not, and he’s taking it.
**Director, Writer, Producerds:** Luke Covert, Brandon Keeton, Dan Mirvish, and James Andrew O'Connor
**Writers:** Samantha Oty, Matthew Kiskis
**Cast:** Nicholas Stoesser, Jared Spears, Jordyn Denning, Landon Tavernier
An uptight dwarf and his free-spirited, alien-obsessed neighbor hit the road on a border-defying search for their place in the universe.
*"Our Closing Night Film....this film is unequivocally an HHM kind of movie…quirky and fun, with great storytelling. Just on the other side of odd in the very best way possible. Sponsored by Great Lakes Bay Pride."*
**Director:** Juan Felipe Zuleta
**Writer:** Leland Frankel
**Producers:** Juan Sebastian Jaimes, Masha Leonov
**Cast:** Matthew August Jeffers, Sarah Hay