It’s the 2nd annual Artist Foundry Pitch Competition! On May 22nd, the Artist Foundry will invite selected filmmakers to pitch to a panel of industry experts and receive feedback in front of a live audience. We will award prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place pitches and even have an open mic for elevator pitches. Whether you’re a filmmaker trying to get your project recognized, a film supporter looking to see what new ideas are developing in the community, or an audience member looking for inspiration, this will be a fun night for all.
Applications to submit a pitch for consideration are now open here. We will select 8 people to pitch at the May 22nd event and those who are selected will be required to join a training session on May 7th. Pitch participants will by announced April 30th.
Judges
Chantelle Squires
Chantelle Squires is an award-winning director and producer with over 20 years of experience in narrative filmmaking, documentaries, non-scripted television, and music videos. She directed and produced Jane and Emma, a historical drama released in theaters in 2018 starring Danielle Deadwyler, as well as Reserved to Fight, a feature-length documentary that received finishing funds from ITVS and aired nationally on PBS. Her work in television includes producing the third season of The Generations Project for BYUtv, which won an Emmy for the episode Natalie, and serving as a producer on the BYUtv series Grace Notes, which was nominated for a GMA Dove Award. Chantelle is currently a director and producer at Kaleidoscope Pictures, where she continues to develop compelling projects across multiple genres. Beyond her filmmaking, Chantelle is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of storytellers. She is an adjunct film professor at Brigham Young University, serves as the Vice President of Utah Women in Film and Television, and is a member of Film Fatales. Her work is driven by a passion for telling meaningful stories that inspire, uplift, and connect audiences.
Holly Tuckett
Holly Tuckett is a renowned documentary filmmaker, whose work intricately ties her liberal arts education to her passion for social activism and storytelling. Her filmography includes the award-winning Church & State, a deep dive into the legal battle for same-sex marriage in Utah, showcasing her ability to weave compelling narratives with significant social themes. Holly’s recent documentary, Anchor Point, highlights women wildland fire fighters, gaining acclaim for its inspirational message and call for change in work culture. Beyond her directorial and producing roles, Holly actively engages with audiences, amplifying marginalized voices through discussions and public forums, solidifying her reputation as a filmmaker deeply committed to societal change. Currently, in a bit of a departure from her previous works, Holly is directing and producing United States of Bourbon. A comedic YouTube docu-series, about the intersection of chemistry, art and relationships. USoB, as it is intentionally known, follows four comical characters; a broadway musical director, a broadway actor, a DC Illustrator and film composer as they tour and taste at the great bourbon distilleries of America. All of them bonding over their love of America’s number one spirit, Bourbon.
Jenny Mackenzie
Dr. Jenny Mackenzie’s films have aired on top broadcast and VOD channels such as HBO, HULU, PBS, and Amazon, and have received praise in the New York Times, The LA Times and The Hollywood Reporter. Her films include KICK LIKE A GIRL, SUGAR BABIES, LEAD WITH LOVE, DYING IN VEIN, QUIET HEROES and THE RIGHT TO READ. Jenny has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a Ph.D. from the University of Utah and is an assistant professor in documentary film production at Utah Valley University.
Markus Bishop-Hill
Markus Bishop-Hill, p.g.a. – member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy – is a Film/TV Producer originally from California, who made his debut in Utah when he brought the very first Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movie to film in the state in 2014, titled Christmas Under Wraps. He continued to bring over a dozen cable television feature films to Utah, generating millions of dollars of local spending between the years of 2014 and 2018. In the midst of his cable TV career, he executive produced the award-winning Anthony Hopkins indie thriller Where Are You, alongside two-time Academy Award nominated cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, and spent 5 years in streaming television on Hulu’s Into The Dark (Seasons 1 & 2) and American Horror Stories (Seasons 1 & 2). Since moving to Utah full time in 2024, Markus has been a part of the producing team for the Angel Studios hit movie and TV series, Homestead – which resumes filming this summer 2025. More recently, Bishop-Hill teamed up with Emmy-nominated director, Tony F. Vainuku, to shoot a narrative titled Finau – the story of pro-golf brothers Gipper and Tony Finau, Utah natives that discovered their talents while growing up in the Rose Park neighborhood of Salt Lake City – currently making it’s way through the film festival circuit.
