Hemmings has announced that two of its films have been nominated for awards at prominent film festivals. “The Motor Underground: Chinatown Confidential” has been nominated for Journalism and Factual Entertainment, and “The Day the Park Tilted” has been nominated for Documentary Feature Film at the Grand Motoring Film Festival, according to the company.
Additionally, The Motor Underground has earned a nomination at the esteemed International Motor Film Awards in London.
The Grand Motoring Film Festival, held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island, is North America’s celebration of automotive cinema. Kicking off the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance, the festival showcases independent films and documentaries that highlight the artistry and passion of the motoring world. In its seventh year, the festival features red-carpet elegance, classic car displays and screenings of the year’s top motoring films, officials noted.
The International Motor Film Awards is recognized as one of the world’s leading platforms for automotive filmmaking. The event honors excellence in motoring films, from high-end commercials to insightful documentaries, and attracts filmmakers and industry professionals from across the globe.
“The Motor Underground: Chinatown Confidential” is called a captivating series that delves into the rich, clandestine street racing history of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Premiering on MAVTV and Hemmings’ YouTube channel, the series follows host Dan Stoner as he uncovers the story of a mythical dragster known as “The Underdog,” offering a deeper look into the Chinese-American community’s connection to car culture.
“When we began ‘The Motor Underground,’ our goal was to tell an authentic story steeped in car culture, and if this series introduces Hemmings to a new audience, we’ve succeeded,” said Stoner. “’Chinatown Confidential’ and ‘The Day the Park Tilted’ started as series, but we felt their narratives worked best in feature format for this audience.”
“The Day the Park Tilted” is a feature-length film adaptation of Hemmings’ “The Motor Underground: Shifters So-Cal” documentary series. The film chronicles the history of the Shifters So-Cal, one of the pioneering car clubs on the West Coast that played a central role in the hot rod revival of the early 1090s.
The club’s influence extended far beyond cars, shaping the tattoo culture, custom car scene, rockabilly resurgence and even the Swing movement, according to filmmakers. Despite facing tragedy that led to the club’s decline, the Shifters’ distinctive style endured—proving that, like iconic figures, they continue to “abide” in the world of car culture.
“Hemmings’ nominations at the Grand Motoring Film Festival and the International Motor Film Awards mark a significant milestone in the company’s growth as a leading collector car marketplace to also being a leader in automotive storytelling,” the company noted. “These accolades reflect the brand’s dedication to capturing the rich, diverse culture of the automotive world through innovative and compelling content. As Hemmings continues to explore new formats and reach wider audiences, these nominations are a testament to the impact of their creative vision on the global stage.”
