Dixie State University and the DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival recently announced its 2016 lineup. The festival, which runs from Sept. 6 through 10 at DSU, includes a free series of intimate filmmaker chats and special events, receives submissions from all over the world with topics that cover all manner of the human experience.
The 62 films accepted for the festival this year relate to recent world events, expose quirky habits of ordinary people, or demonstrate the resiliency of the human spirit to overcome adversity. This year, the festival also includes five special screenings of films from the Independent Film Channel’s series, “Documentary Now!” hosted by Helen Mirren.
“Each year, we think the films submitted could not possibly surpass the previous year, and each year the quality astonishes us,” said Phil Tuckett, executive director of DOCUTAH. “It takes real passion to venture into the art of documentary, which is often a lonely pursuit in a world filled with commercialized studio films. That passion certainly shines through in this year’s selections. The variety of subjects will bring audiences to places they have never known and allow them to experience a wide range of emotions from tears to laughter to inspiration.”
The DOCUTAH 2016 lineup covers a diverse array of subjects:
—A modern country with no military.
—A devotee of a forgotten science called optography.
—People who live in storm sewers underneath the streets of Las Vegas.
—A tribute to the Breakfast Queen of Chicago.
—An 85-year-old college student.
—Young children training to run with the bulls of Spain.
—Conservation and industry coexisting in Borneo.
—A popular comedy series in which each episode is 6 seconds long.
—Mango trees saving the lives of young Indian girls.
—A man obsessed with stealing NYC buses and subways then making all the correct stops.
—A Baltimore beatbox rapper who teams up with Mongolian throat singers.
—A politician who was Donald Trump long before Trump was a politician.
—A Canadian Catholic Christmas tree salesman selling his wares in a NYC Jewish neighborhood to atheists.
—The owner of a crooked auto wrecking company who goes into hiding from the law dressed as a woman and decides he likes it.
—Ghost towns of the American West seen through the eyes of a Frenchman.
“DOCUTAH is unique not only because it is a pure documentary festival but also because it is university-supported, which allows both visitors and students to have easy access to this art form,” said Dr. Jeffery Jarvis, Dean of the College of Arts at DSU. “No matter where the films originate, they seem able to strike a chord in audiences and help them relate to universal human experiences. DOCUTAH brings together independent filmmakers, aspiring film students, and citizens of the world and the southern Utah community in an educational setting on the campus of Dixie State University.”
DOCUTAH’s mission is to inspire a global connection through independent documentary films and audience access to filmmakers. DOCUTAH strives to enhance the education of independent filmmakers, aspiring film students, citizens of the world and the Community. DOCUTAH provides an opportunity for students and amateur and professional filmmakers can discuss and advance their skills in the art of filmmaking.
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