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 June 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, Viva El Folklore International, Kaladharaa Dance School and Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl de Utah. 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
Special Effects
Original Music Composition
and the Arches Award, for an outstanding film made in Utah or by a Utahn.

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, 2021.
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.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Richard James Allen

    We were delighted to have DIGITAL AFTERLIVES selected for the Utah Dance Film Festival. The trailer showed a wonderful collection of moving images and it great to think of digitally dancing with them.

    March 2020
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  • Project Home Productions

    We had a great time participating in the Utah Dance Film Festival this year! We are so thankful for events that allow artists and dancers to showcase their work in a safe and constructive space. Project Home Productions will definitely be submitting our work in the coming years, wishing all the best! Thank you for your hard work Utah Dance Film Festival!

    March 2020
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  • ali kenner brodsky

    It was an honor to be included in this lineup. The communication was stellar, I'm sorry I couldn't attend.

    February 2020
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  • Guillaume Versteeg

    I was glad to have the international premiere of my film at UDFF. The organisation is very professional and has great communication throughout the process. Wish I could have been there in person for the viewings! Highly recommended!

    October 2019
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  • 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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