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2025 FILM
SCHEDULE

APRIL 16TH-19TH

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DIFF All Days

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 FREEClick 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*

DIFF Day 1
DIFF 2023 Industry Panel

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.

"Tiger" (13 min) 

Directed By Loren Waters

Clear Sky” (75 min) 

Directed By Shawn Clearsky Davis & Michael Del Monte

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

DIFF Day 2

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

DIFF Day 3
DIFF Script Read

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

 

DIFF Day 4

FIND YOUR LODGING TODAY

CALL AND LET THEM KNOW YOUR WITH DESERTSCAPE

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