Made-In-Utah Shorts Block | DIFF 2026

DIFF 2026 MADE-IN-UTAH SHORTS BLOCK

Desertscape 2026 proudly presents the Made-In-Utah Shorts Block, a collection of short films made in the Beehive State. 7 short films in all.

*Some films may contain some mature content (Language, Violence, Blood)

Ttitles are as follows;

Thus Spoke The Wind | 10 Mins | U.S.A. | World Premiere

Directed by Ebrahim Ghaeini

Starring Ethan Boor

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

An exiled knight discovers a befallen blade that holds magic, and divine curse.

Dead Man's Hand | 15 Mins | U.S.A. | World Premiere

Directed by Trey Paterson

Starring Dan Fowlks, Trey Paterson

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

A late night poker game between a cowboy and a professional gambler, alone in a saloon. Things turn deadly as one of them is not what they seem.

Gabe’s Last Leg | 10 Mins | U.S.A. | No Premiere

Directed by Loren Zoltan

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

A young optimistic service worker loses his leg to a rare bone-eating tumor while trying to keep it together at his lowest point with no help from his employer.

Come Sunrise: A Van Helsing Story | 8 Mins | U.S.A. | World Premiere

Directed by Ben Vasion

Starring Ross Seymour, Caleb Christinsen, Charlie Stover

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

Joshua Van Helsing, a retired vampire hunter comes home to discover some things from the past can come back to bite you.

Gracie Buckshot and The Kiddo | 12 Mins | U.S.A. | World Premiere

Directed by Blade Sabovcik

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

A modern spaghetti western of epic proportions.

Be Not Afraid | 10 Mins | U.S.A. | No Premiere

Directed by Jacob Hamblin

Starring Nate Morely, Ryann Bailey, Jessica Staples

*This short will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A

At a dusty gas station, a desperate showman stops to see the roadside attraction known only as "God"--but what he finds is no act.

Morgan | 20 Mins | U.S.A. | No Premiere

Directed by Connor England

A rock-climbing short film that tells the story of how a young Utah athlete became a skilled climber and champion for the female climbing community. This story takes a look into her upbringing, climbing legacy, and at what makes Utah a unique place for climbing. Follow Morgan as she attempts two challenging routes back-to-back while exploring Utah’s contrasting landscapes.