Utah Film Center’s mission is to connect people, stories, and ideas through film exhibition, artist support, and media arts education.
We envision a world where all of Utah’s communities feel welcome, valued, and creatively empowered to make the world a better place.
By amplifying diverse perspectives and marginalized voices, we believe that we can usher in a richer understanding of our neighbors, fellow human beings, and the world around us.
Utah Film Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, believes that “Good Film Makes Better Humans” and utilizes the power of film to educate, inspire, and engage Utahns, transcending political, geographic, cultural, and religious boundaries to highlight human experiences from around the world. In 2019, over 39,000 Utahns participated in our programs through:
- Free screenings of documentary, independent, and dramatic films
- Two annual film festivals
- Post-film Q&As and discussions with visiting artists and professionals
- Professional development for teachers to use film and digital media in the classroom
- Programs for students to learn about storytelling through film
- Artist support through fiscal sponsorship and Artist Foundry
These ongoing programs raise awareness among and inspire audiences while preserving the cinematic culture in Utah. We provide a curated platform for independent voices year-round.
We collaborate with educational and community organizations–including the University of Utah, Utah Pride Center, KUER, and the Sundance Institute–to champion underrepresented voices and perspectives, and encourages diversity, empathy, and community-building, while developing new audiences for film. Our screening venues in Salt Lake City include the Salt Lake City Public Library and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, with special event screenings at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts amongst others. At least twelve times a year, Utah Film Center places community members in direct contact with filmmakers, through receptions and post-film discussions, providing the community with a behind-the-scenes view of the cinematic process and cultivating an appreciation for film.
Additionally, we curate and organize two film festivals every year. Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children and Youth is the only festival of its kind in the Intermountain West, catering to our community’s youngest moviegoers and fostering the next generation of filmmakers and film fans. Our longest-running program, the Damn These Heels film festival, celebrates our community’s diversity by sharing LGBTQ history, culture, ideas, struggles, and triumphs through film.
In addition to film screenings, the Utah Film Center provides media arts education programs for students and teachers statewide through in-classroom activities, field trips with visiting guests, and accredited teacher professional development. Our Artist Support programs include fiscal sponsorship, which has over 120 active projects and has had over 20 works premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and our Artist Foundry filmmaker co-working space supports independent filmmakers telling Utah-grown stories.
