Johnny Hickey is no stranger to telling powerful, personal stories. The Boston-born filmmaker joined me to talk about his award-winning short film Methadone Mile, which shines a light on the city’s addiction crisis. The film, starring Justina Valentine, has received critical acclaim and served as a launching pad for a feature film spin-off called Fetty, which explores the devastating press pill epidemic.

Hickey is known for his raw, unfiltered storytelling, something that began with his debut film Oxymorons, based on his own experience with oxycontin addiction. That project went on to stream on Netflix and sparked widespread conversation about opioid abuse.

Through his work, Hickey aims to confront the realities of addiction while offering hope and awareness. Mainers will get a chance to see Methadone Mile on the big screen during the New England REEL Recovery Film Festival on June 7th in Portland. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Hickey. You can find more details and grab tickets here! Proceeds will benefit the Maine Association of Recovery Residences. To learn more, listen to our full interview below: