12th UFF Award Ceremony Recap

The 12th annual Utah Film Festival was an emotional evening of celebration for filmmakers overcoming incredible challenges to bring important stories to the silver screen. 

A tribute video started the evening to remember a few of the local actors we lost in 2022 including Joshua Michale French, Max Weiss and Gary Brooks Jr. This video set an emotional tone that echoed throughout the night rather than self congratulatory acceptance speeches as often seen during award season. 

After submitting screenplays for the last 7 years to the festival, Jeanne Dukes finally picked up the win for her short screenplay The Breakable Shoes which also was featured as part of the festivals table read series during one of the monthly film festival events. 

“I’m really excited about this because The Breakable Shoes is my own true Christmas family story” said Jeanne Dukes. “So I am going to hold this award especially close to my heart and I’m really honored.” 

Jason Wixom has attended the film festival for 12 years being a cast member of several of the productions. Last night he picked up his first award for his performance in the soon-to-be-released Holbrook Boys.

“This isn’t just a win for me but for the entire cast and crew of Holbrook Boys because without the whole team we would not have made this film” said Jason Wixom.

Samuel Hart and Taylor Garret picked up Best Commercial at the Utah Film Festival after recently discovering that the same project Dungeons & Dragons: Play Your Way was also nominated for a student Emmy!

Lee Liston picked up his latest award for his performance in The Binding Bell. “It was such an honor to portray this character” said Lee Liston. “Whenever you win an award, let it remind you about how far you have come and what it represents. Because it’s not just a trophy collecting dust, it’s a milestone in your life to remind you how far you have come.”

The Gift picked up it’s first film award at the festival to resounding applause for Best Feature Documentary. The Gift is the story of Medal of Honor recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham and the Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, and love. The reverence and appreciation this story told about Corporal Jason L. Dunham moved audiences to tears and resulted in an extended Q&A session with the live audience. 

Krushan Naik’s film Resurgence picked up the win for Best Short Documentary. In an emotional acceptance speech Krushan Naik struggled to put his thoughts into words. This genuine expression touched everyone in the theater and those watching the award ceremony online. 

“The love that I have received at UFF has been incredible” said Krushan Naik. “My Journey from the first time I came from Utah and receiving this award for my doc has been rough and there was a question you sent out that said “What would you have done differently if you had to do the film again” and I said that I wouldn’t have changed anything because every decision that I made that worked in my favor just validated my process and everything that backfired was a lesson for me and lessons are very important for us to grow. And this feels like the way my journey has been from the first time I came to Provo and now receiving this award it feels like it’s coming full circle.  The way it’s started and the way it’s ending. I’m sure it’s not the end but it’s the beginning of a new journey.”  

Jason Ruffoni & Sue Rowe picked up the win for Best Music Score for the short film Compassion Spreads Like Wildfire: The Vicki Minor Story. The film focuses on Vicki Minor who created the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to help protect firefighters and their families when tragedy strikes. 

Trespassers walked away with the win for Best Narrative Short Film. “We have a very small crew representing Trespassers tonight but I think that is what the film has always represented” said Zach Ryan Doumit “Small teams and budgets coming together to make something very memorable.” 

FLY picked up an Audience Choice award as well as Best Short FIlm Director. “I love you guys” said Joe Quesada. “I couldn’t have made this movie without you.”

Alta Valley had to overcome incredible obstacles to get completed. Jesse Edwards picked up the win for his role as director for Alta Valley and the Audience Choice Award. Alta Valley also won Best Narrative Feature and was the most well attended feature film during the festival for the entire year. 

“This project is an honest and heartfelt attempt to make an action film, that starts an essential conversation around colonization, land ownership, and reparations toward Native American people” said Jesse Edwards, “My hope is that this film can introduce not only the Diné people but the need for redemption and reconciliation, to a brand new audience.”

Several winners were unable to attend in person but did have an acceptance speech video play during the program including Best Actress Under 18 Lux Elizabeth Wolett from Stars of Gold, Best Supporting Actress Charla Bochicchio from Jump Seat, Best Lead Actress Briza Covarrubias and Best Editing for Zach Prichard from Alta Valley, Best Sound Design for Joshua Garretson of Exiled, Best Music Video for Angie Staheli from Ain’t Nobody See’s Them and Best Series to Sandie Cheng for Imposters. 

Rounding out the winners for the night included awards for Cinematography to Bennett Duchin for Eulogy, Heidi McDonald for her feature screenplay The Castle and See You Next Tuesday for Best Ensemble Cast. 

The 13th annual Utah Film Festival starts up again on February 4th 2023 at The Towne Hub with monthly screenings and events. The 13th Annual Utah Film Festival award ceremony is currently scheduled for January 6th.