ST.GEORGE – The Dixie State University DOCUTAH Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival released the titles of films accepted for screening and competition at this year’s Festival yesterday. Of 330 submissions, 50 films representing 30 countries, commonwealths and republics were selected for the Sept. 3-7, 2013 Festival.
Click here for a PDF of the DOCUTAH 2013 Film Selections, with synopses.
Comprised of 255 local volunteers, screening teams have been viewing and rating film submissions for several months. Vying for acceptance to the festival and the opportunity to compete for DOCUTAH Raven Awards, filmmakers worldwide have been anxiously awaiting yesterday’s announcement of films.
“This year’s submissions have been of the highest quality ever,” DSU Vice President of Institutional Advancement and DOCUTAH Executive Director Christina Schultz said, “and with broad international diversity, we are thrilled to bring the world to screening venues throughout the community this year.”
Also diverse in subject matter, DOCUTAH once again offers programming in a variety of categories including arts, health, sports, travel, politics and civil rights.
“Our closing gala film, “An Ordinary Hero,” tells the amazing story of one white Southern woman’s courage to join the civil rights movement. Her son, who lives in Lehi, Utah, produced this powerful documentary which is not to be missed,” Schultz said.
From the 50 film selections are 15 feature-length films and seven short films that have been selected to compete for Raven Awards.
“Heart of the Andes” and “Mike’s Migration” are the only two locally-produced films accepted to the festival this year. “Mike’s Migration” is a Dixie State University student project, and “Heart of the Andes” features the volunteer contributions of Dixie State Professor Tim Eicher and his wife Penelope in their effort to save a starving, indigenous tribe of the Andes Mountains in Peru.
Following opening night festivities Sept. 3 is a solid schedule of documentary film screenings with feature events highlighting artists and their artwork, humanitarians, athletes, musicians, and various social issues.
The Festival will close Saturday, Sept. 7 with a celebration of filmmakers and Raven Awards ceremony at the DSU Eccles Main Stage Theatre.
A unique feature of the DOCUTAH Festival is its dedication to education. Following many film premiers, viewers will have the opportunity to engage in question and answer sessions with filmmakers, industry professionals and scholars.
The DOCUTAH International Film Festival originated at Dixie State University in 2010. The Festival has since put Southern Utah on the map for hosting this event that attracts professional, amateur and student filmmakers each fall. The festival has expanded to Mesquite, Nevada with a DOCUTAH “Best of Fest” to be held September 12 and 13. Festival goers enjoy coming for the films, staying for the scenery and departing having experienced documentary film inspiration. Touted one of the nation’s best “Small-Town Documentary Film Festivals for 2012” by the Public Broadcasting System, this year’s festival will showcase the best of 330 submissions from 39 world countries.
As part of the festival’s ongoing commitment to providing quality exposure to documentary films, DOCUTAH now offers year-round screening events in the state and region. The September Festival serves as the organization’s culminating annual event.
The Raven Award
Legend and mythology state that Norsemen believed ravens sat on the god Odin’s shoulders and saw and heard all. Ravens are intelligent, playful, curious, observant and creative. Ravens are also highly opportunistic and have learned to adapt to take advantage of whatever their environment offers. Thus DOCUTAH chose “The Raven Award” because these same traits are also exhibited by many documentarians as they create their films. Documentary filmmakers try to provide “the whole picture” of the subject of their film. Ravens are found throughout the world, thus representing the international scope of DOCUTAH.
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DOCUTAH, St. George, Utah, 2013 | Photo courtesy of DOCUTAH, St. George News
Now in its fourth year, DOCUTAH volunteers screened 330 submissions narrowing the number of films accepted to the festival to 50. St. George, Utah, 2013 | Photo courtesy of DOCUTAH, St. George News
DOCUTAH volunteer screeners were invited to be the first to hear the announcement of which films were accepted to this year's festival Sept. 3-7. From 330 film submissions from 39 countries, 50 have been accepted to this year's festival. St. George, Utah, 2013 | Photo courtesy of DOCUTAH, St. George News
Brian Lowe and DOCUTAH Executive Director Christina Schultz announce the names of 50 films accepted for screening and competition to the 2013 DOCUTAH International Film Festival. St. George, Utah, 2013 | Photo courtesy of DOCUTAH, St. George News
DOCUTAH volunteer film screeners gathered at Dixie State University Thursday evening to learn which of the 330 film entries were accepted to this year's festival. Volunteers logged 542 screenings narrowing festival films to 50 for public viewing and competition during the festival. St. George, Utah, 2013 | Photo courtesy of DOCUTAH, St. George News
Event Recap
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