The Utah Dance Film Festival is a 501(c)(3), an international dance film festival, an arts education organization and a catalyst for movers and filmmakers to connect, collaborate and create.
We host an annual international film festival - submissions are open from September to December, and we screen accepted films in February at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah. During this weekend, we also offer dance and film workshop programming from local and international dance and film artists. Our awards showcase features the winning films, as well as live performances by Utah dance artists like Junction Dance Company, BYU's Folk Dance Ensemble, Ballet West Academy students and BYU's Contemporary Dance Theater. The annual festival is sponsored in part by the Utah Film Commission.
UDFF also hosts a yearly 24 hour film competition, called MOVE. Participants need not use dance, only showcase the limitless potential of human movement. MOVE will be held February 15th-16th, 2020, and the films created will be screened and adjudicated as part of the film festival the following weekend at the SCERA Center for the Arts.

Awards & Prizes

We award outstanding films in our festival for the following categories:

Documentary
Costuming
Editing
Sound Design
Choreography for a Lens
Directing
Ensemble Performance
Cinematography
Audience Choice

We will also continue our photography contest, and encourage artists with films in the works to submit screen grabs!

DEEPER PERSPECTIVE
In this category, we ask the photographer to submit both a series of images and a body of text that tells the story behind the images. Judges weight both the text and images equally.

SPECIAL PROCESS
This category encompasses digitally enhanced imagery, which can include night photography, stitched panoramas or other special effects.

EVENT
This category covers photographs from competitive events, social causes or gatherings, traditions or cultures.

ARCHITECTURE
This category includes dance imagery featuring bridges, buildings, cityscapes, historic landmarks, interiors or industrial sites.

UTAH
This category features photographs showcasing a landscape or landmark in our state.

Rules & Terms

All films submitted will be reviewed by the festival directors and official selections will be announced on January 13th, 2020.
UDFF draws audiences of all ages, so we may request that you slightly alter your submission in order to have your work screened.
UDFF does not offer distribution, we are a platform that showcases works of screen dance and presents awards for outstanding films.
Upon submitting your film to UDFF, you agree to allow our directors to utilize your work to promote our event, screenings and workshops.
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jenny Mair

    I had a fantastic time at the Utah Dance Film Festival. There were a lot of dance film makers to network with, and I enjoyed the question session as well as the final evening of awards and performances.

    March 2019
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  • Rachel Swenson

    I really enjoyed the UDFF. Very nicely curated event. I loved the workshop session on dance film editing by Jen Ray, viewing the films, and having a panel discussion with filmmakers. The festival was well organized. The awards event was great. They combined films, awards, and live dancing. Thank you festival directors. Bravo!

    March 2019
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  • Al Rabih Rami

    Unfortunately I was not able to attend the festival. However, I can definitely confirm that this is a professional event. The communication is excellent, and the quality of the events and films seems really interesting. It's an honor for me to have my film "The Dance of Amal" awarded at the Utah Dance Film Festival and very happy to be an alumni of this festival.

    March 2019
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  • Francesca Penzani

    Thank you Utah Dance Film Festival for screening DOUBLE UP . You were the first Dance Film Festival to choose it and I am honored that it was in your Finalist List. You have been so supportive and I wish you continuous success for more amazing Festivals. Also I truly appreciate your generous feedback even though I was not able to come to the festival.

    December 2018
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  • Liudmila Komrakova

    We are honored to have our film officially selected for the festival. It is the festival with highly developed advertising of films through social media and open minded and diversified selection of films of different genres and dances.

    March 2018
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