FMASU’S “A MERRY MOVIE CHRISTMAS” RETURNS IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A SPRINGBOARD FOR LOCAL FILMMAKERS AND TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR “ROOT FOR KIDS”
The 501(C)(3) nonprofit Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU) returns with “A Merry Movie Christmas,” a film-centric holiday-inspired event for all ages created as both a springboard for local filmmaking talent and as a fundraiser for important local causes. This year, half of the proceeds from “A Merry Movie Christmas” will go to Root For Kids, a vital nonprofit designed to help families create a nurturing environment for optimal growth and to aid in the early development of children. Since 1993, Root For Kids (previously known as The Learning Center) has served as a beacon of hope as they’ve lent a helping hand to over 16,000 families.
FMASU and “A Merry Movie Christmas” promise a magical afternoon of cinematic entertainment for attendees in honor of Root For Kids and our vibrant community of storytellers. The proceedings will start off with the 10th anniversary of “The Holiday Edition of the Guerilla Shorts Showcase.” Participating filmmakers were given a Christmas themed topic and a limited amount of time to put together a short film (7 minutes in length) using any resources available to them.
Seventeen filmmaking teams signed up for this yuletide quick turnaround challenge but at press time, the number of completed films hadn’t yet been determined. That said, during “A Merry Movie Christmas,” attendees will have the rare opportunity to experience these completed cinematic holiday creations alongside the creative and dedicated storytellers that put them together. Additionally, attendees will have a hand in picking the best of the best as there will be prizes awarded to the 3 strongest short films of the bunch.
“A Merry Movie Christmas” will take place on Saturday, December 19th at the historic Electric Theater. Doors will open at 1:30 PM with “The Holiday Edition of the Guerilla Shorts Showcase” beginning at 2 PM. In addition to this special collection of holiday-appropriate short films, attendees can also expect a delicious meal, a special visit from a socially distanced Santa Claus (yes, there will be photo ops), and a handful of wonderfully festive surprises. Tickets are only $15 dollars. There will also be discounted $10 tickets for senior citizens and students (with ID) as well as $5 tickets for children under 11. For more ticket info and event updates, visit fmasu.com.
As an added bonus, immediately following “A Merry Movie Christmas” charity event, FMASU will present a very special free screening of “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” This wonderful spin on the timeless Charles Dickens classic features your favorite muppets in holiday action as well as a masterful performance by the legendary Michael Caine as Scrooge. “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is expected to start at 6 PM.
On a final note, FMASU is well aware that we are all living in very strange times. As such, all safety precautions will be taken at this event. Included; Limited seating, distancing, sanitizing stations, and masks.
