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ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING
Filmmaker Panels & Workshops
Upstairs in the Panel Room
Live Script Read
Upstairs in the Panel Room
2025 SCHEDULE
CLICK THE FILM TITLES BELOW TO LEARN MORE
DAY 1
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH
*SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
12 PM - 7 PM -- BADGE PICKUP
Guests may pickup their badges and passes in the lobby of the Electric Theater.
FILM
1 PM - 3 PM -- FEATURE DOCUMENTARY BLOCK
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
From ocean conservation to the housing crisis, these two powerful documentaries showcase real-world impact. Follow a surfer turning 10,000 cigarette butts into a movement and witness the fight against eviction. Inspiring awareness and action, these films keep our "Making a DIFFerence" mission alive. What better way to open Desertscape 2025! Click the film titles to learn more.
"Losing Your Home" (20 min)
Directed By Emmanuel Rioux
“The Cigarette Surfboard” (93 min)
Directed By Ben Judkins
FILM
4 PM - 6 PM -- SHORTS BLOCK 1
EMERGING STORYTELLERS
We’re excited to shine a spotlight on 7 extraordinary emerging storytellers that are either part of film schools from around the globe or making their first true foray into filmmaking. Students get in FREE! Click the film titles to learn more.
“Lone Mountain” (20 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Tanner Browning
"Burning Away" (15 min)
Directed By Romane Lepage
"Path of the Plume" (20 min)
Directed By Talon Earley
"When It Hits" (9 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Veronica Mitsuk
“Franky Loses It” (10 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Dalton Call
“The Hard Way” (7 min)
Directed By Daniel Cyr
"The Straw Lady" (18 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Liam Arnold
BADGE
REQUIRED
6 PM - 7 PM -- OPENING NIGHT DINNER RECEPTION
Kick off Desertscape 2025 with our Opening Night Reception, exclusive to badge holders! Enjoy a wonderful catered meal and connect with fellow filmmakers and festivalgoers before the Opening Night Feature Film Block. A perfect way to start an unforgettable cinematic journey!
FILM
7 PM - 9 PM -- OPENING NIGHT FEATURE BLOCK
COSMIC CHAOS
Start Desertscape 2025 with two wildly fun films! It Came From Inside! turns a couple’s Halloween night into chaos, while Time Travel is Dangerous follows vintage shop owners unknowingly disrupting the universe. Hilarious, thrilling, and the perfect festival kickoff! Click the film titles to learn more.
"It Came From Inside!" (12 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Jackson Rees & Aura Martinez Sandoval
"Time Travel Is Dangerous" (99 min)
Directed By Chris Reading
Badge Holders will join us following the film for a special opening night afterparty.
9 PM - 11 PM -- OPENING NIGHT AFTER PARTY
Festivities continue at TBA
Drinks, music, and good company!
*Badge Holders Only*
DAY 2
THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH
*SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
12 PM - 1 PM -- CATERED LUNCH
AND LETTERBOXD TRIVIA
Trivia is for everyone but Only Badge Holders will receive food
downstairs in the VIP Lounge area.
FILM
1 PM - 3 PM -- FEATURE DOCUMENTARY BLOCK
UNBROKEN SPIRITS
Featuring a powerful feature documentary and short film, Unbroken Spirits highlights Indigenous stories of perseverance, love, hope, and integrity. These inspiring films celebrate resilience and strength, offering a moving and unforgettable experience. Click the film titles to learn more.
PANEL
3 PM - 4 PM -- INDUSTRY PANEL
LOGGING IN: A DEEP DIVE INTO LETTERBOXD CULTURE
Join moderator Beau Stucki and guests for an insightful look into the world of Letterboxd, the social hub for film lovers. From shaping discourse to influencing filmmakers and audiences alike, this panel explores the platform’s impact on modern cinephilia.
Moderator
Beau Stucki
Writer/Actor/Film Historian
Special Guests
Kamiko
High School Instructor/Filmmaker
FILM
4 PM - 6 PM-- SHORTS BLOCK 2
SHORTS BLOCK, TOO
A father/daughter story, the bond between a creature and a young girl, the animated adventures of a mummified body, a holiday-centric meditation on death, a poignant exploration into identity, a tale about embracing change, and a fantastical look at a friendship tested, etc. If you’re looking for variety, then Shorts Block, Too has got you covered!. Click the film titles to learn more.
“Margaret the Brave” (27 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Danny Chandia
“Bottle George” (13 min)
Directed By Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi
“Beaupré The Giant” (9 min)
Directed By Alain Fournier
“Death & Cookies” (9 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Aaron Stephen Tharp
“Gillyfish” (10 min)
Directed By Sarah Sellman
“Humantis” (10 min)
Directed By Paris Baillie
“The Destroying Angel” (9 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Derek Romrell
6 PM-7 PM -- CATERED MEAL
*Badge Holders Only*
Served downstairs in the VIP Lounge area
FILM
7 PM - 9 PM -- FEATURE FILM BLOCK
THE FUTURE IS NOW
A provocative yet accessible sci-fi adventure that sets out to prove our memories make us who we are. Click the film title to learn more.
“Recollection” (119 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Caden Butera
FILM
9:30 PM - 11 PM -- FEATURE FILM BLOCK
NO ESCAPE
Step into a world where reality unravels and escape feels just out of reach. Get pulled into a tightly wound psychological maze — eerie, intense, and impossible to shake. If you love slow-building suspense, surreal settings, and stories that stay with you long after the credits roll, this is the block you won’t want to miss. Click the film title to learn more.
MR. K (94 min)
Directed By Tallulah Hazekamp Schwab
DAY 3
FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH
*SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
10 AM - 11 AM -- LATE BREAKFAST
AND LETTERBOXD TRIVIA
*Badge Holders Only*
Served downstairs in the VIP Lounge area
FILM
11 AM - 1 PM -- FEATURE DOCUMENTARY BLOCK REFRACTIONS & REFLECTIONS
One man reflects on his late father through a shared hobby while another reflects on his extraordinary life as a visionary in the world of standardized color. This pair of films thoughtfully celebrates the lives of two talented and undeniably passionate artists. Click the film titles to learn more.
“The Paternal Prism” (8 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Jon Tinsley
“The Pantone Guy” (82 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Patrick Creadon
PANEL
1 PM - 2 PM -- INDUSTRY PANEL
THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR: INSIGHTS ON THE ART& BUSINESS OF FILM CHAPTER 1
*FREE to the public
Step into the director’s chair with industry professionals as they share insights on balancing creative vision with the realities of filmmaking. From storytelling to securing funding, this panel explores the art and business behind bringing films to life.
Caleb Hatton
Moderator
Special Guests
Rachel Johnson & Danny Chandia (Margaret the Brave), Veronica Mitsuk (When it Hits), Sterling Andrews (Living in the Last Days)
FILM
2 PM - 4 PM -- SHORTS BLOCK 3
MADE-IN-UTAH: THE RECKONING
An atmospheric collection of 5 Utah-made shorts that explore faith, war, and mortality through bold, thought-provoking stories. Click the film titles to learn more.
“The Angel” (19 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Barrett Burgin & Jessica Burgin
“Till Death Do Us Part” (25 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Jacob Hamblin
"Waves" (13 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Hans Glasmann
“That Hideous Place” (16 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Weber Griffiths
“Sweet Molly” (25 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By J.C. McNaughton
PANEL
4 PM - 5 PM -- INDUSTRY PANEL
THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR: INSIGHTS ON THE ART& BUSINESS OF FILM CHAPTER 2
*FREE to the public
Caleb Hatton
Moderator
Special Guests
Nelson Tracey (The Pantone Guy), Noah Richmond & Aaron Hinton (Mall Hot Dog), Julien Lasseur (Somebody Cares), Matt Heder (AstroVan)
FILM
5 PM - 7 PM -- FEATURE FILM BLOCK
STRANGE DAYS
An offbeat, random, and dry-witted sense of humor factors heavily into a double feature that explores both the supernatural-like powers that hot dogs have on unsuspecting mall goers and the power a charismatic life coach wields over a young man looking to find purpose in his mundane life. Click the film titles to learn more.
"Mall Hot Dog” (8 min)
Directed By Aaron Hinton & Noah Richmond
"Living in the Last Days” (72 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Sterling Andrews
7 PM-- CONCERT - YACHTY BY NATURE
Presented by the St. George Art Festival
Concert is outside and up the street from the Electric Theater
*FREE to the public
FILM
9 PM - 11 PM -- FEATURE FILM BLOCK
DESERTSCAPE AFTER DARK
Desertscape presents After Dark, a block for those who prefer edgier fair. Click the film titles to learn more.
“SED” (6 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Jacob Hamblin
“Cruelty” (10 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Sam Das
“Life's a Bitch” (91 min)
Directed By Xavier Seron
DAY 4
SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH
*SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
FILM
10 AM - 12 PM -- SHORTS BLOCK 4
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE
Start your final day of Desertscape 2025 off with a hearty laugh by way of 9 short films that are as clever and amusing as they are straight up funny. Click the film titles to learn more.
"Susana" (16 min)
Directed By Gerardo Coello Escalante & Amandine Thomas
"Weirdos Wanted" (4 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Shane Ivry Stewart
“GalaxSea” (8 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Tyler D Boren & Garrett Elton
“Take One” (12 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Gerald Adamson
“Guts” (7 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Elias Gold
“Sheet Talk” (9 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Jackson Dean Ahlander
“AstroVan” (16 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Matt Heder
“Somebody Cares” (5 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmaker)
Directed By Julien Lasseur
“Extras” (15 min)
Directed By Marc-Antoine Lemire
12 PM-- CATERED LUNCHEON
*Badge Holders Only*
Served downstairs in the VIP Lounge area
SCRIPT READ
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM-- LIVE SCRIPT READ
Enjoy live reads of selected screenplay entries from our
7th annual Desertscape screenplay competition. *FREE to the public
Feature Screenplay
“REINDEER IN
THE MOONLIGHT”
Written by LUKE AVERY
(Excerpt from script)
Short Screenplay
“FIREFLIES OR
C.S.H.C.?"
Written by MARTIN RICHMOND
(Full script)
FILM
2 PM - 4 PM -- DOCUMENTARY BLOCK
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
From an arborist with a passion for enduro motorcycling to a spirited, passionate, and loving wrestler who wouldn’t let a craniofacial disorder keep him from reaching his goals, this pair of films will certainly inspire you to live your life to the fullest. Click the film titles to learn more.
"In the Window" (7 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Joe Samaniego
“Standout: The Ben Kjar Story” (99 min) *Q&A (W/Filmmakers)
Directed By Tanner Christensen
PANEL
4 PM - 5 PM-- INDUSTRY PANEL -
COMING SOON: THE SECRETS OF TRAILER EDITING
Discover the art of crafting unforgettable trailers from Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Kyle Peck. From building anticipation to nailing the perfect final shot, Kyle reveals the secrets of pacing, music, and storytelling that captivate audiences in minutes.
Presenter
Kyle Peck
FILM
5 PM-- CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE FILM
Your 2025 Desertscape experience closes out with a crowd-pleaser of the highest order. Sit back and take in this warm and charming story of a teenager who looks to escape the pressures of his everyday small village life through the power of electronic dance music. Click the film title to learn more.
“DJ Ahmet” (99 min)
Directed By Georgi Unkovski
7 PM-- CLOSING NIGHT RED CARPET
8 PM-- AWARDS & AFTER PARTY
Close out the festival this year in style!
Awards ceremony will be held at The Historic Electric Theater.
Free to the public!
Then, badge holders will be treated to a closing night party.
Delicious food will be catered by The Imperfect Pear!
Located across the street from the Electric Theater
at the Dixie Academy Ballroom right above the Children's Museum
FIND YOUR LODGING TODAY
CALL AND LET THEM KNOW YOUR WITH DESERTSCAPE
