5 Must-See Movies at the Kanab Film Festival & Food Frenzy

5 Must-See Movies at the Kanab Film Festival & Food Frenzy

– By Adam Mast –

The Kanab Film Festival & Food Frenzy is just around the corner (April 21st thru 24th) and there will be absolutely no shortage of worthwhile films to see. You can read about the festival in our preview piece here.

For those of you attending, here are 5 titles you’ll want to put at the top of your list; 

MALIBU HORROR STORY (85 min.)
This creative, terrifying, relentlessly-paced slice of found-footage horror from the gifted writer/director Scott Slone finds a team of paranormal experts searching for answers behind the mysterious disappearance of four teens who went missing while exploring a cave. This film is great on its own, rising above the found-footage tropes you might be expecting, but the fact that’ll be screened in an actual cave makes this a not-to-be-missed Kanab Film Festival event. What’s more, “Malibu Horror Story” will be preceded by “One of These Sounds is Not Like the Other,” “Fishbowl,” and “Something”; A trio of outstanding micro-budget short films that are also sure to benefit from a most unique screening experience. As an added bonus, Kanab Gets Dark will also include a gritty and raw dramatic short called “Blood Runs.” 

*Playing Friday, April 22nd during the Kanab Gets Dark block. Directors Scott Slone (“Malibu Horror Story), Lance Murphy (“One of These Sounds is Not Like the Other”), Austin Schadewald (“Fishbowl”), and Brandon Treadway (“Something”) are all expected to be on hand for Q&As.

BIG OLD GOOFY WORLD-THE STORY OF OH BOY RECORDS (51 min.)
This insightful, charming, wonderfully energetic music-based documentary chronicles the career of iconic singer/songwriter John Prine and his crusade to buck the typical record label system by creating his own unique label so that he might release music independently. The end result is magic. This immensely entertaining film was directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard.

*Playing Saturday. April 23rd during the 4 PM block. The filmmakers will be on hand for a Q&A. They’ll also be on hand for a special screening of a music video featuring The Killers in the same block.

GIZMO (13 min.)
This creative student short from filmmakers Colby Clanton and Ben Vasion, delves into the dramatic tale of an endangered relationship but this story is told from a most interesting (and adorable) point-of-view. Outstanding camera work highlights this gem of a film school capstone project. Bonus points to the team behind “Gizmo” for borrowing their film title from one of the most endearing (and fittingly mean-spirited) creature features of the 80s. 

*Playing Saturday, April 23rd, during the 10 AM block. The filmmakers will be on hand for a Q&A. 

SWEET DISASTER (90 min.)
With winks at the likes of “Amelie” and “Toni Erdmann,” the often whimsical romantic comedy “Sweet Disaster” is as cute and funny as it is dramatic and heartbreaking. Directed by the gifted Laura Lehmus, this wonderfully-executed German import is punctuated by an outstanding Friederike Kempter performance and creative visual effects that fittingly blur the lines between fantasy and reality. 

*Playing Thursday, April 21st during the 7 PM opening night block.  

SAUERKRAUT (28 min.)
What’s in the title? Everything! This is an interesting and intimate look at how sauerkraut is made. This mini-doc is insightful and well crafted to be sure, and what’s more, I love how during this process, no leftover ingredient is wasted. Strangely enough, I’m not even a fan of sauerkraut but I still thought this film was terrific!  

*Playing Thursday, April 21st during the 7 PM opening night block. The director will be on hand for a Q&A. Hopefully, he brings sauerkraut samples along because perhaps it’s time I give this beloved dish accompaniment another chance. 

Also, watch for Barrett Burgin’s “Cryo,” a provocative and claustrophobic sci-fi drama with shades of “Cube” and “The Twilight Zone,” Mike Caravella’s zany sci-fi/kung-fu/stoner comedy “Astral Plane Drifter,” and Alex Astrella’s “Underdogs,” a moving mini-doc that centers around prison inmates and the loving canines that serve as their service animals. 

For more on the 2022 Kanab Film Festival & Food Frenzy, click here.