The second annual Orem Film Festival drew a strong crowd to the Megaplex in Vineyard, showcasing a diverse selection of ten short films. According to a September 30 report, the event sold out auditoriums and featured several works created by local filmmakers.
The festival lineup included various genres such as horror films, documentaries, stop-motion animations, and dramas. Of the ten films presented, five were produced by local filmmakers. Attendees paid $10 for entry and participated in an audience vote to help determine award winners.
Three specific awards were presented during the event: a jury prize, an audience award, and the Utah emerging filmmaker award. The jury prize was awarded to Moderator, directed by Eli Staub, following a selection process by a six-member panel of filmmakers and critics. The Utah emerging filmmaker award went to Do Not Watch, created by Andy Matthews and Aaron Tharp. The audience award was given to the documentary A Love Letter to My Parents, directed by Mira Plummer, which discusses her experience growing up in Provo during the 1980s.
Trevor Allen, the festival founder, stated that the event's atmosphere was electric as hundreds of movie fans discussed the films in the hallways. He noted that the selection process was difficult because the team had to choose from hundreds of short films to create a balanced lineup of serious and light-hearted content.
Allen mentioned that the festival aims to provide a platform for original, homemade short films that evoke various emotions. He expressed a goal for Utahns to have an accessible annual experience to look forward to.
The first Orem Film Festival held last year was considered a success. Allen stated the novelty of the initial event helped attract curious visitors to the festival.
