Instagram story viewer> @desertscapeiff> Tagged

Desertscape International Film Festival

@desertscapeiff

1.4K

followers

1238

following

The 8th annual Desertscape Int'l Film Festival runs April 1st-4th, 2026 in St. George, Utah! All-Access Badges, Movie Lover Passes & Block Tickets!

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

In 2 weeks, I will be returning to Port Townsend Film Festival to deliver a Forum Presentation and for a screening of The Clyde Best Story!

My forum is called “Rewriting the Indie Feature Playbook.” By the end of the presentation, you’ll get an honest look at the current landscape of making indie features, dispelling many of the myths I thought I knew prior to directing my debut feature @BreakupSeasonMovie.

While I was the @ptfilmfest Filmmaker in Residence this summer, I gave a similar presentation and it was a hit. Meanwhile, Stephen Mastrocola and I teamed up to deliver this style of forum at @desertscapeiff in April.

@StephenMastrocola has delivered his own forums at film festivals such as Hollyshorts, Austin, Baton Rouge and Chandler, to name a few.

(PSA to festivals: book us for your event, filmmakers love this intel!)

And that’s not the only reason to head to Port Townsend: Transforming the Beautiful Game: The @ClydeBestStory is also an official festival selection!
I’ll be there to represent the film alongside a few special guests to be announced. We’ve got a great fall ahead for the film with more TBA.

If you’re going to PTFF, I’ll see you then. If you aren’t and want to see the panel, let me know and I’ll send you another way to view it.

Port Townsend, I’m coming back for ya!

115

6

This Short Film has been entered in more Film Festivals than I ever thought it would be in! From The USA to Tokyo!

It’s won awards and I will finally get to see it on the Big Screen in October in Las Vegas at the @laughafterdark Film Festival.

Can’t wait!

#HustleMania

36

5

We’re honored to announce that the Blu Star Productions original film Extraordinary Character was an official selection and won the “Making a Difference” award at @desertscapeiff and is an official selection of @prescottfilmfestival !

20

0

This line up speaks for itself. Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas star in #PowerBallad — in select theaters May 29, everywhere June 5.

403

4

It was a pleasure collaborating with the Desertscape International Film Festival, even from afar. Nothing makes me happier than working with people who are truly passionate about film. Thank you again to @beauesq and @desertscapeiff for organizing it, grateful these pieces found a home with fellow movie lovers. Hope to join in person next year 🎬📸🎟️📽️🎭📹🎥

#cinema #filmfestival #cinephile #jewelry #filmmakers

47

37

Thank you @desertscapeiff for an amazing weekend. We couldn’t have asked for a better world premiere. Pretty Boys took home “Best US Short Film.” @actordougjones was nominated for best actor, and he also took home the legacy award.

We were honored to share our film with the filmmaking community in St. George. Thank you for having us!

Directed by @sofpuchley
Written by @gomattedwards
Starring @actordougjones & @gomattedwards
Featuring @julianzane @jonathanlgoldstein & @miniature_bostonian
Producers: @gomattedwards @kealani777
EP: @melissablueward @bluelitstudios
CP: @naveedmardi & @brianbarnes20
1st AD: @ronanarthur
2nd AD: @yyooyeonkim & @calebwileyhxc
Editor: @alice.e.airoldi
DP: @locustgarden
1st AC: @thisgirlsteph_
2nd: AC: @austingelfman
DIT: @harrisonhoude
Steadicam: @isaakmorin
Drone Op: @safiphotography
2nd Unit: @thecinemajunkies & @justcassiusking
Gaffer: @mikeduong44
Key Grip: @brandoncabralfilm
Swing: @dir_artemio
Sound: @_jackdanielsmade37
HMU: @_makeupby.emily_
Wardrobe: @_sierrarae
Prod Design: @vampirenosleep
Art assistant: @zeni.zenith
PAs: @emilynortnik & @ari.gonza
BTS: @grahamshandprint

Sound Design: @nateflaks @jack_vveiss & @hitchhikersound
Colorist: @tobia_montanari
VFX: @lumelab

136

17

WE WON THE @desertscapeiff BEST AFTER DARK!!! We are so grateful to the whole team at Desertscape for the award!! 🐕‍🦺👩🏻‍🦯

133

7

Congratulations to The Strawberry, which was awarded Best U.S. Feature Film and Best Actor (@mike_farrell_official) at Desertscape Film Festival this past weekend.

Grateful to have contributed to a powerful film like this.

The first piece from the score is out now.

38

6

what a wonderful night with so many wonderful people 🍓

117

18

Here’s our Desertscape 2026 Recap! It was such a blast getting to show “Ideal Distance” at the beautiful Electric Theater in St. George this weekend! A big thanks to the festival directors, Adam & John- and all the volunteers for putting on yet another awesome event!

Some highlights this time were Danny winning the Kino Lorber trivia challenge and walking away with some sick 4k Blu-rays and Metropolis themed items, getting to meet the iconic actor Doug Jones, and reuniting with so many wonderful filmmakers we’ve met at festivals along the way!

We always feel so welcomed by the Southern Utah film community and are proud to be a part of the Desertscape fam! Can’t wait to reconnect with all of you hopefully sooner rather than later! 🫶

#filmfestival #desertscape #musicvideo #stgeorge

79

6

That’s a wrap.

Thank you Desertscape for the best year yet. You have cultivated more than a place to come watch great cinema, as repeated by those in attendance, you’ve built a warm, caring, welcoming community for filmmakers to gather, collaborate and support one another. Where new to Desertscape filmmakers arrive a little uncertain of what to expect and leave knowing they are Desertscape family.

Thank you so much to the attendees who showed up willing to share their art and hearts.

I love you guys.

#diff2026 #desertscapeinternationalfilmfestival #stfeorgeut #utfilmmaking #utahfilm

36

2

What is your Desertscape origin story?

A huge thank you to the whole reason I discovered Desertscape in the first place, Joe DeGolyer 🙏@josephdegolyer.

The 13th Cross premiere in 2020!!

Feel free to judge me with the mask on even though it’s just me 😆

#utahfilm #desertscape

35

4