The Desertscape International Film Festival is returning to St. George for its eighth year. The festival will begin on April 1 and run through April 4.
Put together by the Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah, Desertscape enables local and international filmmakers to show off the films that they have created. All screenings will be held in the historic Electric Theater, with submissions ranging from eight minute short films to feature-length movies. Space permitting, SUU students can attend the festival and panels for free with a student ID.
The first day of the film festival will begin with a screening of a block of shorts made specifically in Utah. Seven short films will be shown, with the goal of highlighting the indie filmmaking talent of Utah. Following each short will be a Q&A with the filmmakers. The block is set to run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It will be followed by a block of international short films, running from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The feature film that will be shown on the first night is “If I Go Will They Miss Me,” directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez. The story is described as “a beautiful and lyrical look into the life of a boy who wants nothing more than to connect with his distant father, set against the backdrop of Watts, Los Angeles.” The screening will begin at 7 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.
Day two will begin with the “Lunch and Lean: Filmmaker Conversations” panel, where attendees will have the opportunity to listen to visiting filmmakers about their craft. The panel will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will be followed by the Sight and Sound shorts. This will be a showcase of short films emphasizing sound and visual storytelling. It will run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Two feature films will be shown that night, including “I’ve Seen All I Need to See,” directed by Zeshaan Younus, and “Crusty Fouler,” directed by John Giacobbe.
Day three will consist of more short film screenings, with an emphasis on darker and poignant stories. Alongside those films, Desertscape will be showcasing two documentaries emphasizing art in the American West. “Come to me Everyone,” directed by Shaffer Nickel, will offer a look at roadside art, while “The Last Picture Shows,” directed by Rustin Thompson, will explore the decline of single-screen movie houses. The block will run from 10 a.m. to noon.
Day four will open up the last day of the festival with a block of shorts focused on comedy, running from 10 a.m. to noon. It will be followed by another documentary showing. “The Ascent,” directed by Edward Drake, Scott Veltri and Francis Cronin is “a true story of perseverance, grit, and determination against seemingly insurmountable odds.” That showing will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The final showing of the festival will be “Power Ballad,” directed by “Sing Street” director John Carney. Promising to be a “music-tinged charmer,” the showing will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 7 p.m.
For more information including ticket prices and the full list of films, visit the Desertscape International Film Festival Website.
Author: Conner Dean
Photo courtesy of Desertscape International Film Festival
Editor: Hannah Clove
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