How Do Film Festivals Actually Judge Films?
For many filmmakers, the judging process can feel like a black box. But at the Utah International Film Festival, we believe in transparency—and we want you to know exactly how it works.
The multi-step evaluation process
When a film is submitted to UIFF, it goes through a thorough and thoughtful screening process. Each project is viewed by at least three screeners. These screeners are dedicated film lovers who are looking for that spark—something that stands out and resonates.
Once a film has been evaluated and given its scores, it moves on to our programming team. The programmers review the feedback and consider how the film fits into our overall festival lineup. We have a certain score threshold that a film needs to meet, both in terms of technical criteria and subjective impact. If it meets that mark, the programmers decide if it earns a place in the schedule.
From screening to nomination
But the journey doesn’t end there. Our programmers also take the screener notes and use them to determine nominations for categories like Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Lead Actor or Actress, and more. This means that a whole team—about 50 people—has input on which films and filmmakers rise to the top.
The role of the jury
There’s one category we’re especially excited about: Best Live Action Short Film. This is the category we hope will become Oscar-qualified in the future. Films in this category go on to be judged by our jury—a group of respected industry professionals who focus solely on this nominated selection. While we’re not Oscar-qualified yet, we’re use this process so that one day this category will meet that prestigious standard.
The human touch
In the end, the process is as much about relationships as it is about scoring. We pay attention to filmmakers who grow with us over time. If we see someone improving and evolving, we’re even more excited to welcome them back. We’re not just selecting films; we’re building a community. And that’s how we approach judging—thoughtfully, transparently, and always with a genuine passion for discovering great stories.
