Welcome the Utah International Film Festival 🎬

Day 1 of 5

Author

Warren Workman
December 31, 2025

As one year of filmmaking ends, another begins — full of new narratives, new voices, and the hutzpah that built UIFF for the past 15 years.

And for the last four years in a row, films screening at the Utah International Film Festival have gone on to receive Oscar nominations. This year, we’re once again honored to be screening Oscar-shortlisted films alongside new discoveries and audience favorites. So yes — this is the place for indie film.

Filmmaker Check-In

11:00 AM – Studio Lobby

Grab your credentials and maybe a friendly smile from the team. This is where filmmakers meet the festival crew, reconnect with friends, and officially step into the whirlwind that is UIFF Week.

Table Read: Romance, Connection & Personal Renewal

12:00 PM – Studio 5400

Love, longing, and second chances take center stage in this live table read featuring scripts including Don’t Break Any Hearts, Thursdays, and What The World Asked For. Tickets are FREE for ALL Table Reads thanks to the Workman Pro Foundation, supporting film literacy and education.

1:00 PM – Main Theater

Some friendships arrive when we least expect them. This heartfelt and charming short block features Aloha Means I Love You, Cell Buddies, Christopher & the Bug, From Way Up Here, Java Jive, Megunticook, To Write the Ending, and Whisper.

2:00 PM – Studio 5400

This documentary explores the devastating impact of the Troubled Teen Industry and the survivors who refuse to stay silent. Filmed over nine years, it follows families seeking healing, truth, and accountability.

Panel: Pitch Bootcamp / Practice / Art of the Pitch

2:30 PM – Centennial Room

Got a story you believe in? Now learn how to pitch it with confidence. Industry experts break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to turn nerves into momentum. Expect real-world strategies, helpful exercises, and the occasional lightbulb moment.
Open to Day Pass and Festival Pass holders.

3:00 PM – Main Theater

Sci-fi, dystopia, and imagination light up the screen in this thrilling lineup featuring For the Boss, No Nation, Project Penelope, Thinking in Portals, Untainted Sky, and WROL: Thorns.

Table Read: Youth in Peril & Coming-of-Age Under Pressure

4:00 PM – Studio 5400

This lineup of scripts explore adolescence on the edge — including Beneath the Dust, Pith, Untamed Fire, and Nightmare Preserve. Join us as the stories come to life in this table read, FREE courtesy of the Workman Pro Foundation.

Panel: Self-Tapes That Book

4:30 PM – Centennial Room

Actors — this one’s for you. Learn how to create self-tapes that don’t just show your talent… but get you cast. From framing to lighting to performance strategy, our panel shares the tools you need to turn your setup into your secret weapon.
Available to Day Pass and Festival Pass holders.

5:00 PM – Main Theater

Saddle up for a cinematic ride into the modern — and sometimes mystical — West. Featuring Cane Creek, Cowboys and Hindus, Stubborn, The Ballad of Bush Mare, and The Magician’s Bluff.

6:00 PM – Studio 5400

Jon Heder (yes — Napoleon Dynamite himself) dives head-first into the fascinating world of Grimdark fantasy. From creators to superfans, this documentary explores the shadowy storytelling style that refuses to look away from life’s darker truths. A must-see for fantasy lovers.

Murder Mystery Mixer

6:30 PM – Centennial

Step into a playful whodunit where clues drift through the crowd and anyone could be the culprit. It’s interactive. It’s social. It’s free. And it’s the perfect way to meet your fellow festival detectives — we mean guests.

7:00 PM – Main Theater

This moving collection includes Ba Ba Bound, Decode Me, Just a Pill Away, My Friend Misery, Touch, Two Heartbeats, and War — stories that explore what it means to speak up, be heard, and feel seen.

8:00 PM – Studio 5400

This late-night lineup brings the shadows to life with Dante's Inferno – The Ascension, I’ll Be Right Back, See You in Your Sleep, Silent Echoes, and The Followed.

9:00 PM – Main Theater

Who says death can’t be hilarious? Wrap up Day 1 with twisted humor in A Ghosted Heart, The Pearl Comb, How to Escape a Chinese Finger Trap, Murder for Dummies, Prom Party Massacre, and Status: Active.

Want the big picture? Every screening, panel, and event is listed online so you can plan your festival adventure.

Huge appreciation to Enigma 3 for supporting UIFF and helping filmmakers bring their visions to the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville Utah. . If you need top-tier film gear for your next project, their team will take great care of you.

Wanna same some $$$? Pick up a day pass or festival pass!

If this is your first year with us — welcome!
If you’re returning — welcome home.

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