Utah Film Festival Announces Its Premiere Family-Focused Program and Schedule

Utah Film Festival Announces Its Premiere Family-Focused Program and Schedule

New Festival Focuses on Family-Friendly Films from Local and National Filmmakers Presenting Original and Award Winning Features For the Whole Family

LINDON, Utah, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Utah Family Film Foundation, founding entity of the Utah Family Film Festival, today announced the line-up of selected films for its first family-focused film festival. A premier showcase for the best new work by independent filmmakers, the festival's competitive categories provide audiences with opportunities to discover the most innovative films focused for the family from today's emerging filmmakers.

The 2007 Family Film Festival runs June 7 through June 9 in Orem, Utah. The complete list of films is available at http://www.utahfamilyfilmfestival.com/. For the 2007 Family Film Festival, 16 feature films were selected, including the world premiere of the highly acclaimed teen film, Her Best Move, as well as two fantastic short programs for kids and adults. The family friendly films showcased in the initial festival will exhibit the film works of talented and independent filmmakers from around the world.

The Utah Family Film Foundation was founded by Utah businessman and film entrepreneur, Brady Whittingham, in an effort to help families discover excellent family oriented films in a community setting. The Utah Family Film Festival is an independent festival dedicated to finding compelling, humorous, and thought provoking films of exceptional quality.

"I have been a regular attendee at many film festivals around the country for years; and although I have enjoyed many great films, I always leave distressed that I could not really bring my family to these festivals," said Brady Whittingham, the Utah Family Film Foundation's founder and Chairman. "For this reason I wanted to start a film festival, whose underlying purpose is to find and exhibit good, high quality family friendly films. To us 'family friendly' means smart, creative, world-class films that won't offend a family-based audience, but that will inspire, provoke, humor and surprise the viewers."

"The Utah Family Film Festival is excited to begin its first year with a fantastic line-up of award-winning films from local, national and international directors. We have chosen a wide variety of films to appeal specifically to kids, teens and adults, but many of these films are great for all ages," said Tyler Measom, the Utah Family Film Festival's Director. "We are witnessing a broadened interest for more family-oriented films in the traditional independent arena. In this year's Family Festival there is a breadth of subject matter, vision and innovative storytelling that is oriented to the whole family."

"This new film festival reflects a newfound awareness and need for more family-oriented films that highlight a more personal, optimistic hope for the future," said Whittingham.

A summary of the festival is as follows:
-- Premiere of superb teen film The Eye of the Dolphin, an exclusive Utah
premiere.
-- Simple Things, a multiple award winning drama, including winner of the
"Spirit Award" at the International Family Film Festival, an LA based
independent festival dedicated to socially responsible films.
-- Award winning comedy Big Dreams, Little Tokyo -- Q&A afterwards with
local director David Boyle.
-- Stalking Santa, a multiple award winning comedy, including winner of
"Best Comedy Feature" at the independent, LA based International
Family Film Festival.
-- WWII film, Beautiful Dreamer, winner of ten "Best Picture Awards,"
awarded by festival juries at independent film festivals around the
world. Q&A afterward with star, Elise Jackson.
-- Two excellent short programs with short films and documentaries from
around the world: Shorts for Kids & the Kid at Heart and Short Films
for Everyone Under 100.
-- A retro screening of Goonies and Napoleon Dynamite.
-- The Festival will also show a free film for children each day.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:
-- Audience Choice Award (Audience ballot)
-- Best Overall Feature (Festival Jury Selection)
-- Best Short Film (Festival Jury Selection)

Opening night will kick off with the premiere of the highly acclaimed teen film, Her Best Move and include Q&A with the director and star after the screening. The press is invited to the 7pm VIP premiere. A second showing will begin at 7:45pm.

The film festival will run three days: Thursday June 7th, Friday June 8th and Saturday June 9th. The films will play three times over the course of the festival. All films will show on screens reserved at the University Mall Theaters at 959 S.700 E. Orem, Utah. Tickets are available online or at the theater (cash only) beginning June 1st.

About the Utah Family Film Festival

The Utah Family Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent family-focused films. Held in Orem, Utah, the festival's core purpose is to provide world-class films that are socially thoughtful, compelling and positive, and meant to appeal to a family centered audience.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Utah Family Film Foundation

CONTACT: Jennilyn Merten, +1-801-687-6665, or +1-801-949-5086,
jennilyn@leftturnfilms.com, for Utah Family Film Foundation

Web site:

http://www.utahfamilyfilmfestival.com/

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