Dixie State University and the DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival have officially announced the festival’s 2015 lineup. The festival will run at DSU from Sept. 8 through 12.
The DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival, now in its sixth season, receives submissions from all over the world with topics ranging from serious to hilarious, and the 77 films accepted for the festival this year cover a wide variety of subject matter.
“#Chicago Girl: Social Media Takes on a Dictator” is the story of an American teenage girl armed only with Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and camera phones using social media to coordinate the revolution in Syria.
There is also lighter fare, such as “BOUNCE,” which traces the history of the ball and removes the audience from the scandals and commercialism of today’s sports world to uncover the reasons humans have played ball for centuries.
“Our films this year are filled with colorful characters, exotic locations, and stories which are at times compelling, amazing, quirky, and riveting. There really is something for everyone,” said Phil Tuckett who is the artistic director for DOCUTAH, an associate professor at DSU, and the director of the Center for Media Innovation at the DSU media center. “Submissions came in from 39 states and 31 countries, and the quality of production rivals any theatrical release. 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.”
This year, DOCUTAH received over 400 submissions, including eight from students who reveal remarkable talent and insight. DOCUTAH is unique not only because it is purely a documentary festival but also because it is university-supported, which allows both visitors and students to have easy access to this art form.
“What really strikes us about the submissions this year was the diversity—cultural, national, regional, topical, informational—and how often stories of people from one era or region can relate to the lives of others far away or far removed,” said Jeffery Jarvis, dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at DSU. “Independent documentary films inspire audiences by providing a global connection to the universal human experience. DOCUTAH brings together independent filmmakers, aspiring film students, citizens of the world, and the southern Utah community in an educational setting on the campus of Dixie State University. We believe that this sixth year of the DOCUTAH festival is the best we have ever presented.”
DOCUTAH’s mission is to inspire a global connection through independent documentary films and intellectual discussions. DOCUTAH strives to enhance the education of independent filmmakers, aspiring film students, citizens of the world, and the community. As part of DSU’s academic component, DOCUTAH also offers masterclass seminars and filmmaker panels wherein student, amateur, and professional filmmakers can discuss and advance their skills in the art of film making.
The 2015 DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival is held at DSU in St. George. The 2015 festival runs from Sept. 8 to 12 and includes filmmaker chats, seminars, and gala events, all within the beautiful scenery of southern Utah’s red rock country. This year, the festival has also launched a newly designed website to do justice to the quality of the films and events included in DOCUTAH and to offer visitors a better experience.
The films will be shown at the Eccles Fine Arts Center. Day passes are $7 each, and an event pass for the full week is $27. Click here to order. Passes ordered within 10 days of the event will not be mailed but will be available for pickup at will call with proper ID.
Do students get in for free? If so how?