Kanab, Utah's official Film Festival returns May 1 - 3, 2025.

The Kanab Film Fest: A Film & Food Experience is a 3-Day all inclusive, intimate celebration of film & food always with a fun, rotating theme that drives the decor, parties and an immersive experience for all attending!!

Featuring independent films from all over the globe ranging from documentaries and student films to micro shorts and feature lengths, we select films that cover a diverse range of topics aimed to motivate, inspire, entertain, and spur dialogue. And one of our most talked about event and sought after ticket is Kanab Gets Dark film block, screening scary and more risqué films inside Moqui Cave! Filmmakers can now submit their films specifically for this event, since it's such a unique experience to see your film inside a cave!
​
The Food aspect really takes this event to the next level. Every festival badge includes at least two catered meals from local eateries prior to the film blocks and all the candy and drinks you can handle, essentially turning this into an all-inclusive marriage of entertainment and eats!
​
And for outdoor enthusiasts, the Fest always features an outdoor activity or special local experience to give you a taste of the area.

This new take on a traditional film fest is the brainchild of the founders Britt and Jeff Roth who get to bring their expertise from their former careers together in one amazing event that continues to get bigger and better each year.

LOCATION
: Held in scenic Kanab, Utah, known for its beauty, proximity to six National Parks, including Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and its long and storied history of filmmaking going back to the 1930s. Kanab has been coined "Little Hollywood" and between 1930 and the 1990s, over 300 films have been made here and the list continues to grow! The Kanab Film Fest aims to celebrate this rich movie-making history and bring it into the current day.

JUDGING
: We take to heart the amount of work put into each film. Therefore, we are careful to ensure each submission is reviewed at great depth and watched in its entirety. We like to be transparent in our process and judge the story over the production value. Our panel is made up of industry professionals, movie critics, and every day people who enjoy watching all kinds of movies.

SUBMISSION DETAILS
: Please submit your film in the appropriate category. Kanab Film Fest organizers- Jeff and Britt Roth- can be reached through kanabfilmfest.com or by email to jeff@kanabfilmfest.com.

We value the power of a well-told story. We can’t wait for you to tell us yours.

Awards & Prizes

Best Student Film
Best Utah Film
Best Comedy Film
Best Animation
Best VFX
Best Feature Film
Best Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Micro Short
Best Music Video
Best Actor
Best Cinematography
Cinema Verité
Best of the Fest
Audience Choice
....and maybe some more surprise categories!

Filmmakers accepted to the Fest will receive an All Access Film Pass and Swag plus a first-come-first-serve complimentary hotel room. Once you get yourself here, you're well taken care of with catered meals, all-you-can-eat concessions, themed parties, and the best networking in the most beautiful town where you'll truly make friends and business connections for life! Our networking wrap party is responsible for several features and short films.

Rules & Terms

UPDATE: to screen in Moqui Cave please submit directly to that category

KANAB FILM FESTIVAL FILM COMPETITION RULES

1. KFF screens films as digital files during the Festival. Please submit films in 2048×1080 29.97 fps H.264 format, under 10GB please.
To upscale to 2K from 1080 follow this tutorial: https://tinyurl.com/upscalefrom1080

2. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted. During final screening the film must only have English subtitles.

3. Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee per entry and a completed online entry form.

4. We will not screen films with a watermark. If that’s a deal breaker, don’t submit.

5. Films must have been completed within 3 years of the festival date. Films must be available for screening by the final deadline.

6. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival.

7. We prefer that films not be publicly available online.

8. KFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.

9. Kanab Film Fest reserves the right to show a portion of your officially selected film in our promotional material.

10. Films must be the original work of the applicants.

11. We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished. That said, because KFF’s focus is on story, minor technical changes will not affect the final decision of any film. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version no less than 7 days before the event begins.

12. Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by KFF in connection with the dispute.

13. Official selected films will be downloaded once so please be certain that is the file you would like us to screen.
32 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Seabolt

    Do yourself a favor and submit to this amazing festival!! You’ll have a blast!

    May 2024
    Helpful
  • MD Wilson

    The 6th Kanab Film Festival was a 5-star event from opening to close. We traveled from Miami to participate at our first fest and found the films, the people, the hosts, the community, and the landscape to be stellar. Our goal now is to attend other festivals but to return next year to Kanab and to help promote and to propel the event!

    Camila and Michael

    May 2024
    Helpful
  • Sneaky Pineapple Productions

    I had ABSOLUTELY the BEST time at Kanab Film Fest! These guys really know how to throw a party. No aspect was overlooked. Food, accommodations, libations. I felt so welcomed and taken care of. It's like a film festival with all your closest friends. This fest is intimate in the greatest way.
    I walked away with a handful of collaborations in the works and many many new friends. I highly recommend attending this fest!

    May 2024
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, Natalie! You got the fullest experience possible at the fest: officially selected, the kickoff costume party, new friends, future projects, and an award! We loved having you out in Kanab, and I'm certain we will see more of you both on screen and in person because Southern Utah filmmakers love collaboration, a perk we very much appreciate being able to support.

  • Lauri Koseff

    The Kanab Film Festival is a breath of fresh air. Six of us attended from three different countries and the moment we arrived we were made to feel more than welcome and immediately felt included and treated as friends. The festival has the rare combination of being both professionally run and organized and being super fun and entertaining at the same time. The generosity of the people of Kanab and the festival organizers goes unrivaled! This was a treasured experience that I will carry with me and share so that people from other communities can have the opportunity to participate in, experience and enjoy in the future.
    Thanks Kanab!!!

    May 2023
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Lauri! We're so glad you were able to make it and that you had a blast like the rest of us. We love having filmmakers come celebrate and you brought such an infectious energy and light wherever you went; we appreciated it greatly. Hopefully you'll be back next year!

  • Warren Workman

    Although I was unable to attend personally, our director did! and this is what he had to say.

    "Kanab Film Fest is an absolute blast! Getting to spend the weekend with some of the coolest people, watching incredible films and going on mini adventures, this festival has already claimed its place as one of my favorites to attend. I made some amazing friends at this festival and already have plans to collaborate with several of them. Definitely recommend attending!"

    May 2023
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Warren! We had a great time with Josh and "Water Babies" and I'm so happy you got to screen in Moqui Cave. Josh brought such a fun vibe with his multiple outfit changes and bright smile. I know he'll be back next year and hopefully you can make it down also!!