Here's what submitting DIFF filmmakers can expect: a selection of short and feature films, engaging filmmaker workshops, red carpet experience, photo opportunities, interviews, an exciting live script read, exclusive secret 16mm pop-up screenings, industry professionals, delightful food and drinks, prestigious awards, and much more. Our aim is to create a filmmaker's getaway, offering opportunities to connect with fellow creators, enhance exposure, and create lasting memories.

In 2024, the Desertscape International Film Festival will undergo a date shift. Instead of late June, this epic cinematic celebration will now align with the long-running St. George Art Festival. Specifically, Desertscape: Year Six will take place from Wednesday, March 27th to Saturday, March 30th! St. George, UT, along with its picturesque surrounding areas, showcases awe-inspiring desert landscapes, making it an ideal location for a film festival. Attend the festival, and stay to explore the incredible sights and sounds of Southern Utah.

The Desertscape International Film Festival invites and encourages filmmakers and screenwriters from all over the world to submit their work, including shorts, features, animations, student films, music videos, and more. If you're proud of your work, don't hesitate to submit it! All genres are welcome.

Every film selected as an "Official Selection" will be showcased in a live theatrical setting (NO ONLINE SCREENINGS), captivating enthusiastic festival attendees over four joy-filled days in one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S. And yes, awards will be presented to honor the best of the best!

Since our inaugural festival in 2019, Desertscape has gained a reputation for featuring top-notch films from around the world. Many of these films have had successful festival runs at renowned events such as Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, to name a few. In fact, each year since its modest beginnings, Desertscape has showcased one to three films that have gone on to become Oscar-shortlisted and Oscar-nominated. Here are a few examples:

"Brotherhood," a powerful drama by Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon (2020 Oscar Nominee)
"DCERA (Daughter)," a heartfelt stop-motion gem by Daria Kashcheeva (2020 Oscar Nominee)
"Sierra," a hilariously quirky animated short by Sander Joon (2023 Oscar Shortlist)
"Warsha," an intense and dazzling short film by Dania Bdier (2023 Oscar Shortlist)

Our recent Year Five showcased an impressive lineup of films, including the stunning French import "Revoir Paris," the award-winning short "Ninety-five Senses" by Jerusha and Jared Hess, and the world premiere of the uproariously hilarious superhero parody "Villains Inc" by director Jeremy Warner.

Year Five also marked the beginning of a new partnership with industry professional Rey Reyes of SteadiCam® Ops and an amazing sponsorship with ARRI by providing the Steadicam® team a Trinity system, camera, and additional equipment for excellent hands-on workshops and insightful lectures for visiting filmmakers and guests. This partnership will continue annually, with talented industry professionals in attendance.

Year Six is already in the works, and we're thrilled about what's in store! With the festival now coinciding with the St. George Art Festival, the event promises to be even more magical.

Filmmakers, what are you waiting for? Submit your film now! This is an excellent opportunity to share your work and experience it in a live theatrical setting!

In short, this four-day cinematic extravaganza is not to be missed! Engage in conversations with storytellers and like-minded individuals, attend filmmaker panels, meet special industry guests, enjoy live music, witness a live script read, attend the awards gala, and, of course, indulge in a wide variety of films for your viewing pleasure, all in the enchanting setting of Southern Utah!

Join us at the Desertscape International Film Festival, celebrating independent films from around the globe!

Awards & Prizes

Submitting your film or screenplay is not a guarantee of selection. All Official Selections and Award Winners will be listed on our website (www.fmasu.com/desertscape).

Trophies and/or certificates will be awarded to the best of the best in various categories. Awards will be chosen by a jury select made up of knowledgeable film industry professionals, enthusiasts, and experts.

Please be aware that if you are selected for the festival but unable to attend and are awarded, you will be responsible for the shipping and handling costs of the award. We want to ensure that filmmakers receive their awards, and the filmmaker will only be charged the exact cost of shipping and handling, with no additional fees.

Desertscape Film Categories & Awards are subject to change, but past awards have included:

Best of the Fest
Best Feature
Best Feature (International)
Best Short
Best Short (International)
Creative Spirit Award
Discovery Award
Making a "DIFFerence" Award
Best Student Short
Best Student Short (International)
Best Music Video
Best Animated Short
Best After Dark Film
Best "Made in Utah" Film
Best VR Short
Best Performance
Best Ensemble
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay

FOR STUDENTS--READ ON;

We will also offer a special Rising Star Award, sponsored by Burning Lines Entertainment.

The award consists of a small trophy and two 90-minute script consulting sessions (via Zoom) with Mark Bracich, the Director of Burning Lines Entertainment. Mark has independent film credits as an actor, writer, and director, and holds a BS in Digital Cinematography and an MFA in Creative Writing (for film).

For 2024, the eligibility for the Rising Star Award has been expanded to recognize the student or first-time screenwriter or writer/director who demonstrates outstanding potential in visual storytelling through a short or feature screenplay or film.

To be considered:

• Students must submit proof of current enrollment in an accredited degree program in
any filmmaking discipline.

• Non-student first-timers must submit a statement that their submission is the FIRST
screenplay or film they have ever entered in a festival. Desertscape does not have to be
the first festival entered.

• For a film (short or feature) to be considered, the student or first-timer must be credited as both the writer AND director.

• If a student or first-time screenwriter for a submitted film wishes to be considered for
the award, the screenplay must be entered separately in the screenplay competition
and applicable entry fees paid.

• This is an individual award, so no “teams” will be considered.

There is no additional charge to be considered for this award.

In addition to submitting for the festival via the normal means, applicants for the Rising Star Award must submit their proof of student status or their “first-timer” statements to:
mark@markbracich.com for verification.

Rules & Terms

Attention Filmmakers and Screenwriters,

Before submitting your film or screenplay to the Desertscape International Film Festival, we kindly request you carefully review the following rules and terms. We assure you that each properly submitted film or screenplay will be given thorough consideration, with the entire work being viewed or read in its entirety.

Desertscape International Film Festival Submission Rules:

1) Eligibility:

• Films/screenplays completed after June 1, 2019, are eligible.
• Films/screenplays previously submitted or screened at other festivals are eligible.
• Films with distribution are eligible.
• Screenplays must not violate any previous sale or option agreements.
• Festival personnel and judges are ineligible to submit for the competition.

2) Language:

• Films not in English must be subtitled. Screenplays must be in English.

3) Genres:

• All genres are eligible for submission. You do not have to submit your films multiple times. We are not that kind of festival. One and done. If selected, we will have your film find a place in the program where it may best fit.

4) Length:

• Feature Films: 45 minutes and above (including credits)
• Short/Student Films: Under 45 minutes (including credits)
• Feature Screenplays: 45-150 pages
• Short Screenplays: 44 pages or less

5) Submission & Fees:

• Submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.
• Each title requires a separate entry form, fee, and digital file.
• Do not submit the same title more than once.
• Submission fees are nonrefundable.
• Incomplete submissions will be disqualified. (Without

6) Format:

• Films must be in MP4 or .MOV format. (We are working towards DCP but at this time the theater specs are set for - H.264 | Prores files, 10-bit 1080p output, and 2.0 Stereo
• Screenplays must be in PDF format, without identifying information.
• Only digital files through FilmFreeway are accepted.

8) Judging:

• Films and screenplays are judged anonymously.
• Minimum scores and determine "Official Selection" status.
• Jurors and Festival Directors help rank and select winners.

9) Notifications:

• Official Selections will be published by the end of February 2024.
• Screenplay Semi-finalists and/or finalists will be announced by the end of February 2024.
• Screenplay Award Winners revealed no later than Mid-March 2024.
• Filmmaker Award Winners will be revealed at the 2024 Awards Ceremony on the Closing Night of the Festival on Saturday, March 30th!

10) Rights:

• Desertscape reserves the right to accept, reject, or disqualify any submission.
• Filmmakers retain ownership but grant usage rights for promotional materials for the upcoming festival and years to come.
• Legal disclaimer releases Desertscape from liability.

Please refer to these full DESERTSCAPE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RULES AND TERMS to be considered for this year’s film festival.

FINAL NOTE:

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREE TO DEFEND THE DESERTSCAPE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, FMASU, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

Now, what are you waiting for? Submit a movie! The cinematic adventure that is the Desertscape International Film Festival awaits you!

63 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Sean Pecknold

    A truly fantastic festival in St. George. Adam and John were incredible hosts and we were thrilled to receive the Best Animated Short this year. Would love to bring another film there someday. They've got the true independent film spirit alive in that beautiful part of Southern Utah. Can't wait to return.

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Sean! Of course, we're bummed that you couldn't make the trip out but we were thrilled that Tennis, Oranges went on to win Best Animated at this year's fest. Additionally, we loved your acceptance video! Thank again for all the support. It goes without saying that we can't wait to see what you do next!

  • Jonathan Zarantonello

    Awesome experience, cool festival, thank you!!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Jonathan! Thank you so much for the kind words and thank you for all of the support. We hope you'll continue to share your talent with us. On a final note, we greatly look forward to seeing what's next from you. Thanks again.

  • Ben Vasion

    Desertscape never disappoints, and this was the best year yet! The films that were programmed were great. I really enjoyed all the panels I was able to attend. I can’t wait for next year’s festival!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Ben! Thank you so much for the kind words! You're such a supporter but beyond that, you're quite the talented storyteller yourself. We look forward to seeing what's next from you and we certainly always look forward to seeing you at the festival. Thanks again!

  • H. Nelson Tracey

    I loved attending Desertscape! Festival Directors John and Adam are committed to independent film and have built something truly spectacular in St. George. First off, they're incredibly hospitable to all filmmakers, providing numerous amenities to our visiting guests and being available with clear communication from the get-go, making it very easy for us to bring a big group to the festival. St George is such a great location for a film festival: driving distance from Los Angeles, and accessible via airplane through either the Vegas or St. George airports for anyone visiting from the rest of the country. Next, I think one of the best things about Desertscape is the quality of their press/media presence. Few regional festivals do as good a job at "covering" their events with photos/videos. Throughout the festival we had excellent photographers taking pictures of everything, interviews with all our cast members, and an incredible recap video for every single day of the film festival (!). That last item is something I've only seen at Sundance prior to this, these guys punch way above their weight in this area. We also got reviews, podcast interviews, and local news coverage courtesy of the film festival. This media is invaluable for our film's press kit, and they did this for every single film in their lineup. In addition to movies, out visiting cast/crew stayed busy with other great events including the welcome party, a live script reading, and panels with engaging film professionals, all of which were engaging and FUN! The fact that Desertscape is closely tied to FMASU speaks to their commitment to supporting indie film and there's a great audience of local St. George folks as well as excellent volunteers and staff assisting in making a smooth production. And to cap it all off, the festival ended with a great Awards Ceremony, featuring clips from the winning films and feeling like a genuine awards show! We were honored to win awards from them for our film, "Breakup Season." I know I'm forgetting other things too but in short I can confidently say that Desertscape is an essential festival to submit to for shorts and features in both the narrative and documentary space (that's basically everyone!). And on a personal level, this was the very first film festival where I debuted a feature film, so I will remember my time at Desertscape for the rest of my life, and so will everyone from our film's team. They nailed it! I look forward to submitting my next project and keeping up with their future festival years. Thank you Team Desertscape!!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Wow, Nelson! That's quite a thoughtful review! But then, we'd expect no less from you. Thank you to you and your entire team for choosing Desertscape to host your world premiere screening of Breakup Season. To call the experience magical would be a gross understatement! Beyond that, your talent goes without saying but your enthusiasm is undeniably infectious. We can't wait to hear more about your journey on the festival circuit and we're more than confident that at some point, you're going to land a great distribution deal. Thanks again for everything! We look forward to seeing you here with your next movie. And hell, if you're up for it, come on out to HorrorFest International in October!

  • peter flynn

    Excellent festival. Extremely well organized. Very friendly staff. Great venue. Adam and John are wonderful hosts, intelligent programmers, and fun, friendly people. I’ve been to many many festivals, big and small, and hands down this is one of the absolute best.

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Peter! We can't tell you what a thrill it was to have you out at the fest. Of course your talent and knowledge go without saying but beyond that, you're an absolute delight to be around. Your energy and passion are infectious and I know I'm not alone when I say we hope you'll be back. It should also be noted that we can't wait to see what's next from you. Thanks again!