Across America

2023 • USA • 9 min • Andrew J. Morgan & Nick Nummerdor

Filmmaker in Attendance, Adult Language, Michigan Premiere

A documentary following artist Billy Coulon and his crew making free public parks as skateable art pieces all over the United States. This segment is about a stop near Detroit Michigan. Evergreen Skateparks has set out to elevate skatepark construction to an art form; complete with a philosophy on how a park should “flow”.  They are on a mission to build “moonscape” parks that are fun and easy to learn for all levels of ability. (WIP)

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.

2021 • United States • 90 min • Patrick Longstreth

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

Jazmine Faries, a 32-year old woman with Down syndrome, is obsessed with soap operas, Barbie dolls, and Matthew McConaughey. For the past 5 summers, her family has performed her original stage plays for a small audience in their town of Iron River, Michigan. In this sixth season, we follow the creative process of writing, rehearsing, and performing the play. Family bonds between her brother, Chad, and her mother, Kate, are strengthened and put to the test by the mishaps and chaos of coordinating a production with limited resources. 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.