A hometown film premiere for alumni behind Team Hall Productions

Gracie Hall (producer) and Bella Hall (writer/director) on set of their debut feature film "Misophonia." Credit: Team Hall Productions, LLC

When sisters and Boise State alumni Bella and Gracie Hall graduated in 2023 (both received a BA in film and television arts), they already had a national spotlight shining on them. While still undergraduates, the duo competed in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program-a national contest challenging young filmmakers to produce a 60-second commercial spot to run in theaters. Out of 600 teams from the U.S. and Canada, the Halls were one of five finalists. Ultimately, they won the grand prize. Their short film, "Expand," gave the sisters, who grew up in Boise, an early taste of professional success.

Now, the Halls and their company, Team Hall Productions, are bringing their storytelling home. Their debut feature film, "Misophonia," will premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on Nov. 22.

Bella Hall, who wrote and directed the film, and Gracie Hall, who produced it, drew on personal inspiration for the piece. Bella Hall, like the film's protagonist, contends with misophonia, a condition in which certain everyday sounds trigger intense emotional or physiological reactions.

"Misophonia" follows Martin, a man who loses his job after a misophonia-driven outburst. He moves in with his sister Phillis and her family. The film explores what life is like with this condition, but it does so in a way that might be surprising.

"The film takes the idea of this character and runs with it with lots of laugh-out-loud and whimsical moments," Grace Hall said. "It was a priority for us to present this story through a comedic lens," Bella Hall added.

The sisters shot the film entirely in Boise. "And we are proud of that," Gracie Hall said. "We showcased the local gems, the Old Penitentiary, Boise Little Theater, Freak Alley, Boise High. It feels like a love letter to Boise in a lot of ways."

"Misophonia" feature film production still featuring Adam Enright as lead character Martin Malone. Credit: Team Hall Productions, LLC

Watching the premiere screening at the Egyptian, which also appears in the film, will lend itself to "a very meta viewing experience," she laughed.

Made in Idaho

The shoot was ambitious, especially for a first feature. The Halls secured an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA (the labor union for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) in the midst of the union's historic 2023 labor strike. When they were able to proceed, they shot back-to-back for 18 days in 14 locations. In addition to a cast of 50 humans, the cast includes animals. The film includes VFX design work (planning how visual effects will look on screen) hand-built effects, dance and fight choreography. The production also enlisted the talents of a crew of 50 - all Idaho-based and many with ties to Boise State, including alumni and faculty.

"Our time at Boise State led us to all of these different paths and opportunities," Gracie Hall said. "The connections we made there are very important to us," Bella Hall added. "And they will continue to be."

Rulon Wood, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing, taught the sisters in several classes during their time at Boise State.

Bella Hall and Gracie Hall with Buster Bronco on The Blue. Credit: Jack Turbeville

"The thing that stood out was that they were good in the production classes, but also the theory classes," - those classes that, Wood said, ask students to "break films down to see how they tick." It's unusual to see students who connect with both areas, but the Halls did.

"Film is so collaborative. They really supported one another," Wood said. And that was true of the entire Hall family. He remembers showing up at one of their shoots. Their mom and dad were there helping organize and build sets.

As far as what the sisters' success thus far means to Boise State's growing film program, it's in-line with a general ethos of team work and support.

"Even though we are little Boise State, we have one of the best programs around. It's not necessarily about having the most gear or the ultimate studio, but the culture," Wood said. "Any professor will help students on any project from any class. The faculty are committed to making this program the best it can be for the students. And the students build that culture, too. It's collaborative, not cut-throat. That's unusual."

Festival screenings

Leading up to the Boise premiere, the film made the festival rounds with screenings in Texas and Iowa. It was nominated as an official selection for the Toronto International Women Film Festival in November 2025.

"It has been surreal to have strangers watch the film," Bella Hall said. "The first time hearing their reactions was so cool. It made us more excited to share it with our hometown."

The sisters said their working relationship continues to strengthen. They work seamlessly together with complementary skills - Bella Hall leads with a clear artistic vision. Gracie Hall leads the production side, making sure logistics support creativity on the set.

Bella Hall (left) and Gracie Hall (right) during a post screening Q&A for 'Misophonia' at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival. Credit: Kevin Hall

"There is a built-in trust and shorthand between us," Gracie Hall said. "It makes all of the projects we do together have extra meaning."

The sisters want to tell the same kinds of stories, Bella Hall said, "Stories where the world-building is immersive and the tone is confident and consistent are intriguing to me no matter the genre. A really good story has the ability to remain both timeless and relevant."

Onward, upward, but grounded at home

As for what comes next, the Halls are staying in Boise. "The beauty of the film industry is you can be based anywhere," Gracie Hall said. While travel and filming in different locations are among the duo's plans, they're eager to keep their ties to home. "Boise has such a cool, blossoming indie film scene and we want to help cultivate that."

The Halls are meeting with distribution companies in hope of securing streaming platforms. They are also working on their second feature film.

"It will be very tonally different from our first film," Bella Hall said, "a 180 degree vibe shift. But it will have a musical throughline."

And it will have some kind of connection to their hometown.

"Everything we do will have some Boise element," Gracie Hall said. "You can't take the Boise out of us."

Get tickets for the debut

Ticket sales go live on Wednesday, Oct. 1 .

The red carpet event begins at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown Boise. The screening starts at 7 p.m. A post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers follows at 8:30 p.m.

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