4 Awesome Apps to Make Your First Movie
Have you ever watched a movie at the Utah International Film Festival and thought, “I want to make one of...
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How to Get Your Film Selected at UIFF
Recently, I sat down with Rebekah Louisa Smith, the Film Festival Doctor, to pull back the curtain on how we...
How to Perfect Your Film Pitch
Stepping into the Pitch Tank at the Utah International Film Festival can feel scary. You may have spent years writing...
How to Make Your First Short Film: A Step-by-Step Guide
Do you want to make your first short film but don’t know where to start? Making your first short film...
Rare Utah Locations (and where to find them)
I have been working as a location manager for over 8 years. Bring that time I have needed to find...
50 Horror Story Prompts for Your Next Short Film
When you finally have the time to start working on your latest horror short, your brain goes completely blank. Fear...
Locations You Can Film for FREE
A lot of new filmmakers make the excuse that they don’t have any money to make their first short film,...
What Indie Filmmakers Can Learn From YouTubers Who Went Theatrical
For years, indie filmmakers and YouTubers felt like two different worlds. Film festivals on one side. Online creators on the...
Is Vertical Filmmaking Taking Over?
Vertical dramas are not just a trend anymore (RIP Quibi). They are now a real part of the film industry,...
Is premiere status really that important?
Few topics create more confusion among filmmakers than premiere status. Ask ten filmmakers what it means, and you’ll often get...
What actually gets a film rejected
One of the most emotionally loaded moments in a filmmaker’s journey is the rejection email. Just a polite variation of...
Make the most out of your 1st film festival experience
Your first film festival can feel a little surreal. There’s energy everywhere. Filmmakers talking shop in hallways. Packed screening rooms....
Should I add laurels to my poster?
On the surface, it feels like an obvious yes. You worked hard. Your film was accepted. Maybe it even won...
Where to get a DCP
If you spend enough time around film festivals, one technical acronym eventually starts to haunt your inbox: DCP. A DCP...
I Submitted to a Lot of Festivals. Is That Good?
Short answer: it depends on why you did it and what you expect to happen next. Submitting to a lot...
Tips for Promoting Festival Screenings as a Filmmaker
There’s a myth that festivals will fill your screening for you. Sometimes they do. Often they don’t. Even strong festivals...
Are Western Film Festivals Favoring Political Films?
Yes, there are film festivals throughout the United States that favor political films over other genres. That is part of...
10 Fundraising Ideas for Filmmakers (That Aren’t Crowdfunding)
Crowdfunding is the film industry’s version of standing on a digital street corner with a tip jar. Sometimes it works....
What should I look for before submitting to festivals?
With thousands of festivals and awards programs out there, being selective is smart. The challenge is knowing what to look...
When should I release my short film’s trailer?
Release it too early and it feels like momentum without a destination. Release it too late and you miss opportunities...
What’s the point of so many film festivals?
The frustration is understandable. Thousands of festivals exist, many with little visibility, unclear value, or no live event at all....