Mike is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Midwest Independent Film Festival, currently in its thirteenth year. The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation's only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago.  This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. For schedule and tickets, please visit midwestfilm.org

Mike is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Midwest Independent Film Festival, currently in its thirteenth year. The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation's only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago.  This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. For schedule and tickets, please visit midwestfilm.org

Mike and his friend Chris Bergstrom are Co-Executive Producers on the Midwest-made feature THEY. THEY makes its World Premiere as an Official Selection of the 70th Cannes Film Festival.

In THEY, fourteen-year-old J goes by the pronoun ”They” and lives with their parents in the suburbs of Chicago. J is exploring their gender identity while taking hormone blockers to postpone puberty. After two years of medication and therapy, J has to make a decision whether or not to transition. Over this crucial weekend while their parents are away, J’s sister Lauren and her Iranian friend/partner Araz arrive to take care of ”They”.

THEY is written and directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh. Executive producers include the great Jane Campion as well as Mike's longtime friends Patty West and Joe Klest. Click here for more about THEY.

A note from the producers of HALFWAY:

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado - we give you HALFWAY :) All you have to do is subscribe to the UMC-Urban Movie Channel (at the link below) and you can now officially watch HALFWAY from the comfort of your own home anywhere in continental North America. It's been a long road to get here, but with your support, we're finally here. Please let us know what you think of the film! Team Halfway xoxo

Click here to watch HALFWAY on Urban Movie Channel!