Utah Dance Film Festival is an annual international dance film showcase. UDFF screens and awards films, hosts dance and film workshops, and partners with local businesses and college programs to amplify Utah's performing arts and film production economies.

We host an annual international film festival - submissions are open from August to January - and we screen accepted films in early summer at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, with additional events in other theaters. UDFF offers dance and film workshop programs from local and international dance and film artists. The Awards Showcase screens winning films, and features live performances by Utah dance artists like Junction Dance Company, BYU's International Folk Dance Ensemble, Ballet West Academy students, BYU's Contemporary Dance Theater, Viva El Folklore International, Kaladharaa Dance School, Weber State Dance Department, and Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl de Utah. The annual festival has been sponsored in part by the Utah Film Commission.

We encourage all artists who are interested in the festival to join our jury. Jury members are not judges - jurors are volunteers who watch films, and write responses. All jury activities take place online in February and March 2024. Filmmakers who have submitted work to the festival are welcome to join the jury. Check out our website for complete information, and to volunteer.

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

Documentary
Costuming
Editing
Sound Design
Lighting Design
Choreography for a Lens
Directing
Ensemble Performance
Cinematography
Audience Choice
Special Effects
Original Music Composition
The Humanity Award
and the Arches Award, for an outstanding film made in Utah or by a Utahn.

Artists aged 17 and under are eligible to submit in the Young Filmmaker category. Films will be adjudicated, and each award category will feature one outstanding selection by a Young Filmmaker. Projects submitted by Young Filmmakers are eligible to win award categories as well! Films should be directed, produced, choreographed, edited, scored or danced by primarily an under-18 cast and crew.

All films submitted will be reviewed by the festival directors and official selections will be announced on March 31st, 2024.
Films 50 minutes or under, including credits, qualify as Shorts. Films over 51 minutes qualify as Features.
UDFF is a family-friendly festival, so we will be unable to accept films or refund filmmakers if your film relies on nudity, explicit language, violence or discriminatory themes.
UDFF draws audiences of all ages, so we may request that you slightly alter your submission in order to have your work screened. As an example, we have asked filmmakers to edit out explicit words from music.
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, online and in-person screenings and workshops.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Steve Woods

    I didn't attend the festival but i was impressed by the festival's online element. Also the festival's email communications was appreciated. Utah is up there with the best Dance Film festivals.

    August 2023
  • Beatriz Mediavilla

    What a well organise festival. In real and on line. I'm very sad I could not make it to Utah du to the pandemic in my country. But the selection was so great, inspiring and it was an honour for me to have According to movement selected in this festival. Hope to be selected there again in the future and to be able to assis on that time.

    June 2021
  • Anna Fransen

    We were very honored to be part of the program of this great film festival this year! The communication felt personal and professional in the same time. Thank you!

    June 2021
  • Camille Mỹ Giang

    Utah Dance Film Festival has been a wonderful experience for me, brand new filmmaker. I got charmed by their humanity and benevolence. The festival people was wonderful to me and the programming on point!!

    June 2021
  • This festival has been my favorite by far! Thank you all so much! Great communication!

    June 2021