Tales From the Utah Side Shorts Block | HorrorFest International 2026

HORRORFEST INTERNATIONAL PROUDLY PRESENTS THE "TALES FROM THE UTAH SIDE" SHORTS BLOCK

Tales From the Utah Side Shorts Block is a collection of 10 Utah-based genre films featuring everything from student efforts and horror comedy to a music video, body horror, experimental films, sci-fi, and more! Tales From the Utah Side is a celebration of the local talent, strange ideas, and fearless creativity coming out of the Beehive State.

Some of these films may contain mature content (Mild Language, Blood, Gore, and Violence)

The films in the "Tales From the Utah Side" Shorts Block are as follows;

Do Not Watch

8 Mins | USA

Directed by Andy Matthews, Aaron Tharp

Written by Aaron Tharp

Produced by Andy Matthews

Cast: Archelaus Crisanto, Whitney Rivers

Synopsis: After an argument with his wife, a man begins the process of digitizing his family’s old home videos, only to discover something that was never meant to be seen.

Camp Evergreen

9 Mins | USA

Directed by Connor England

Written by Connor England

Produced by Connor Blake Media

Cast: William McAllister, Zel McAllister

Synopsis: A campfire tale of Lorelei, the siren of the lake, slips from legend into nightmare as a Counselor confronts demons that may be more real than the stories he tells.

Come Sunrise

9 Mins | USA

Directed by Benjamin Vasion

Written by Benjamin Vasion

Produced by Nickelle Blanton, Joseph C.H. Rigdon

Cast: Ross Seymour, Caleb Christensen, Charlie Stover, Aubrey Sanders, Brian Grob

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

Fiesta No Mas

4 Mins | USA | Utah Premiere

Directed by Amy Pope

Written by Pat O’Malley

Produced by Amy Pope, Pat O’Malley

Cast: Joel Wetterstein, Chad Anderson, Jaxxon Lindenmuth, Delilah Baxter

Synopsis: When a child’s birthday party is interrupted by a blood-thirsty guest, one dad must find a way to save his son.

The Worms

6 Mins | USA | Utah Premiere

Directed by William Cowser

Written by Rio LeFevre, Wyatt Stensrud

Produced by William Cowser

Cast: Rio LeFevre, Wyatt Stensrud

Synopsis: This music video perfectly captures the Lynchian spirit of the debut single by the Utah-based indie space rock group, The Creeping Things.

Hillcrest

13 Mins | USA |

Directed by Cary Leavy

Written by Cary Leavy

Produced by Jakob DeLlamas

Cast: Langi Tuifua, Parley Lambert, Dawson Scoville, Ricardo Costa, Julie Heaton

Synopsis: A journalist clinging to an obsession with a government cover up is horrified to find that a monster he thought was eradicated by the U.S. military has hijacked its way inside of his own house…And it’s hungry. 

Orson Welles in Salt Lake City

8 Mins | USA

Directed by Max Bennion

Written by Max Bennion

Produced by Parker Rawlins, Wil Cowser

Cast: Josh Bone, Ava Kostia, Maxwell Kunz, Tom Glasmann

Synopsis: In 1941, the cancelling of a test screening throws a paranoid Orson Welles into a unique nightmare across the streets of Salt Lake City.

It’s Not Haunted

5 Mins | USA

Directed by Porter Justus

Written by Susanna Bezooyen

Produced by Hadley Holyoak

Cast: Helga Kinkade, Lucas Carson

Synopsis: A divorced mom is desperate to have a relaxing weekend with her son in a cabin that is definitely not haunted. 

The Sweater

10 Mins | USA

Directed by Jeff Call

Written by Jeff Call

Produced by Kelly Loosli, Kathryn Schwarz

Cast: Kirby Heyborne

Synopsis: An exhausted father discovers his sweater is a gateway to peace, but something is stalking him in paradise. 

Untainted Sky

21 Mins | USA

Directed by Madeline Bradley

Written by Madeline Bradley, Carson Blickenstaff

Produced by Madeline Bradley, Carson Blickenstaff

Cast: Ethan Akester, Ava Jarque, Georgia Thompson

Synopsis: Within the confines of an extensive underground Machine, a curious mechanic encounters a stranger from the surface. Defying the strict obedience to the Machine, he is driven to learn more about the outsider.