6 Email Tools for Filmmakers to Track Performance
Your network is one of your most valuable assets. Whether you’re pitching a script, reaching out to festivals, or starting...
Year: 2026
Blueprint For Your 1st Short Film
If you’re a brand-new filmmaker with a goal to submit a short film to the Utah International Film Festival by...
Why International Films Matter
One of the most important ways a film festival grows—artistically and culturally—is through international programming. For the Utah International Film...
International Films WIN at UIFF
While most of the films submitted to the Utah International Film Festival come from the United States, we’ve seen a...
Demystifying Film Festival Programming
Do you feel festival programming is mysterious and maybe a bit arbitrary? Why did one film get a prime evening...
Patterns of “Programmed” Shorts
When filmmakers ask, “What kind of short films actually get selected by festivals?” they’re usually hoping for a shortcut. There...
How much does it cost to produce my script?
This question comes up every year at the film festival and the answers the producers give has been consistent. The...
Hidden Cost of Over-Ambitious Scripts
At some point, every filmmaker writes an over-ambitious script. Big cast. Multiple locations. Complex scenes. On the page, it feels...
Write Within Your Resources
One of the biggest mistakes early filmmakers make is waiting for the “right” resources to appear. The better approach is...
Write with Cast in Mind
When you’re writing a script, it’s easy to imagine the perfect cast. The ideal age range. The perfect look. The...
Shorts Don’t Need To Be Perfect
When you’re making your first film, it’s easy to feel like it has to be perfect. The perfect script. The...
Write with Location in Mind
When you’re writing your first script, it’s tempting to think big. Multiple locations. Big set pieces. Constant movement. But one...
When to Submit Your Film to a Festival
Are you really ready to hit that submit button to a film festival you have been following on IG or...
How Is BAFTA-Qualification Different from Oscar-Qualification?
“Oscar-qualifying” and “BAFTA-qualifying” are phrases that get used a lot in the festival world, but they don’t mean the same...
What Does “Oscar-Qualifying” Actually Mean for Filmmakers?
“Oscar-qualifying” is a misunderstood phrases in the film festival world. It sounds like a golden ticket. Like if your film...
Do Film Festivals Help Filmmakers Get Distribution?
This is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — questions filmmakers ask. The honest answer is: sometimes,...
How to Get the Most Out of Your Film Festival Experience
Long before you attend a festival — even before you submit — it’s important to understand why you’re doing this...
How to Prepare for Q&A’s at Film Festivals
For many filmmakers, the Q&A is more intimidating than the screening itself. You imagine tough questions, awkward silences, or being...
Genre Films Thrive at UIFF
When filmmakers hear the word “genre,” it’s often followed by concern: Will my horror, sci-fi, or thriller actually be taken...
What Gets Selected — and Wins — at the Utah International Film Festival?
One of the questions we hear most from filmmakers is a fair one: “Is my film a good fit for...
What Should I Expect at My First Film Festival?
Your first film festival can feel intimidating if you don’t know what you’re walking into. Schedules, screenings, badges, Q&As, strangers...