Utah Film Festival

Overview

The Utah Film Festival is Utah's most important state-level film festival outside the Sundance orbit. Founded in 2005 and held annually in St. George -- southern Utah's largest city, near the extraordinary canyon country of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon's North Rim -- the festival presents independent American and international cinema to southern Utah audiences.

Utah's film culture is largely defined by Sundance, which dominates the state's film narrative from its Park City base each January. The Utah Film Festival in St. George operates in a completely different register, providing community-focused independent film programming to southern Utah rather than an industry-oriented event.

St. George's location near some of the American West's most spectacular landscapes creates a natural context for films about the American West, outdoor adventure, and the natural world.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Program -- independent American and international features
• Utah Film Showcase -- films by Utah-based filmmakers
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Program -- competitive short programs
• Family Film Program -- films appropriate for families

What Filmmakers Should Know

The festival accepts open submissions. For Utah filmmakers outside the Sundance network, this is an important alternative domestic platform. Films addressing the American West and outdoor subjects will find a particularly receptive southern Utah audience.

Major Awards

• Best Film -- jury prize
• Audience Award

Festival History

The Utah Film Festival was founded in 2005 as a community-focused alternative to the industry-dominated Sundance presence in northern Utah.

See Also

For Sundance, see Sundance Film Festival. For US western festivals, see Film Festival Strategy.