Spy Hop’s Backyard Film Bash is a national short film competition and outdoor festival, open to filmmakers across the country, with a special focus on emerging voices and early-career storytellers.
At its core is the 7-Minute Film Challenge—a nationwide call for bold, original films that must incorporate a required “Signature Item.” For the inaugural year, that element is SALT—a creative constraint and a nod to Salt Lake City’s cultural and geographic identity. Whether interpreted visually, narratively, or symbolically, filmmakers are invited to push boundaries and surprise us.
Submissions will be accepted via FilmFreeway, with 12 finalist films selected for premiere screenings at the Backyard Film Bash. Finalists will compete for cash prizes recognizing excellence in storytelling, creativity, and craft—all in front of a live, engaged audience.
Beyond the screen, the Bash transforms into a vibrant, family-friendly outdoor festival, featuring live music, food vendors, interactive art, and hands-on creative experiences. The event also showcases Spy Hop’s four artistic pathways—film, music, audio, and design—through youth-produced work, installations, and collaborations with local creatives.
Backyard Film Bash is a one-night, open-air celebration of storytelling—where big ideas meet backyard vibes. It’s a space to amplify bold voices, champion youth creators, and bring filmmakers and audiences together under the same sky.
Funny, heartfelt, experimental, or completely unexpected—if it’s bold, we want to see it.
Selected films will be screened at the Backyard Film Bash in Salt Lake City—outdoors, together, and on the big screen. The event features a live jury and cash prizes, with awards including Best Films - First, Second, and Third place, plus an Audience Favorite and Youth-focused award. Over $20,000 will be awarded, with the first-place film taking home $10,000.
We keep it celebratory, not overly formal—this is as much about community as it is about competition.
