Great Big Minnows

2017 • USA • 50 min • Sarah Menzies

Terry Myers is in search of a wild steelhead on a different river each month of the year, painting her fishing prowess in a self-effacing and amusing light. With her husband Jerry in tow, we see the challenges they face with depleting runs, while still fully enjoying every aspect of being on the river together – rain or shine, fish or no fish.

2023 • United States • 41 min • Rory K. McHarg & Bret Miller

Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Staff Pick

Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale is America’s No.1 IPA. The now infamous & iconic trout image is found in every convenience store nationwide. The legends behind this label and many others have been buried in folklore for nearly 40 years, but the vision created at Bell’s started a revolution in the craft brewing industry that changed what a beer label could be. This is the unconventional story of an artist whose love of fishing, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and beer found its way into every store in America. Dave Chapelle, during a comedy set in Kalamazoo said aloud, “Why the hell did you put a fish on the label?” However, eccentric artist Ladislav Hanka’s reasoning is simple yet personal. Just like the rest of his artwork.

2026 • USA • 3 min • Mark Wilson of New Leonard Media

Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance

Patrick Concannon reflects on his ancestral land near North Lake Leelanau, where hunting, gathering and caring for the land connect family across generations. This film is part of the Leelanau Conservancy’s Indigenous Knowledges Project, dedicated to elevating Anishinaabe voices.