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Programs@SLFS

MAST

MAST is a media accelerator studio, a non-profit program of the Salt Lake Film Society that grows artists into artist-entrepreneur. Our most robust mission initiative and founding purpose is to provide access to films not available otherwise. Our programs are carefully curated to engage the community with the highest quality films that educate, advocate, and inform, and we do this every day of the year. This initiative makes SLFS Salt Lake’s window to the world of diverse cultures and new points of view. Follow these links for upcoming information on our new film fostering initiative. If you have any questions, you can contact Miles Romney, Head/Founder of MAST, by email here.

NINETY-FIVE SENSES WILL PREMIERE AT HOLLY SHORTS! 

MAST’S ANIMATED FILM NINETY-FIVE SENSES TO PREMIERE AT HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL IN LA’S CHINESE THEATER

NINETY-FIVE SENSES

Ninety-five Senses tells the story of a man facing his own mortality while reflecting on the grave mistakes of his youth. This is juxtaposed against the beauty of life and how we perceive it. “It may be that in the next life, we’ll have ninety-five senses,” he muses. The film comprises five scenes, with connective vignettes, animated in six distinctive styles.The animators were all winners of the inaugural MAST Springboard “Voices Seen” animation contest. This diverse, international group include Gabriella Badillo, Daniel Bruson, Michael Grover, Dominica Harrison, Dallin Penman, Jared Matthews, and KC Tobey, with their teams consisting of Adriana Arvizu, Tamara Cruz, Melissa Lopez, Cristina Lugo, Ruben Morales, Enrique Sañudo, and Scott McHenry.

Film Access and Culture Initiative

365-Day Regular Season Programming

231 film titles screened in 2018, including 106 international films from 27 different countries and 36 documentary films.

SLFS year-round programming is:

  • EXCLUSIVE
    74% of films shown (171 of 231) were exhibited only by SLFS in Utah.
  • AWARD-WINNING
    71% of films exhibited were rated 70 or higher on Metacritic, and 56% won or were nominated for major awards.
  • INTERNATIONAL
    46% of films exhibited represented 27 countries on six continents.
  • DIVERSE
    60 films exhibited were directed by women, 12 by people of color, and 23 were LGBTQ+ themed.
  • ACCESSIBLE
    In addition to weekly open captioned film presentations, we offer a variety of closed captioning and audio narration devices so our patrons with hearing or vision impairments can access most first-run films.

Annual Programs

CZECH FILM TOUR

Co-presented with the Czech Consulate, this three-day spring program has hosted eight Czech filmmakers and more than 50 Czech films.

FILMÉXICO

An annual collaboration with the Mexican Consulate celebrating the history, culture, and heritage of Mexico.

THE GREATEST SERIES

A yearly series devoted to exploring the greatest films within a specific genre or cultural lens.

ISREEL: FILMS FROM ISRAEL

Co-presented with the Jewish Community Center and others, 2019 films from Israel included Oscar-winning Skin with director Guy Nattiv.

SCREENDANCE

SLFS, University of Utah School of Dance and Department of Film & Media Arts co-presented the films of internationally renowned Belgian dance filmmaker and composer, Thierry De Mey, in 2018.

SING WITH MARIA AND OTHER LIVE SHOWS

Patrons of all ages dress up and sing their hearts out to The Sound of Music, a family favorite.

SUMMER LATE NIGHTS

For nostalgic audiences of all ages, three months of cult classics at the historic, much beloved Tower Theatre.

TOWER OF TERROR & ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Every weekend in October is Halloween featuring horror favorites and Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadow-cast.

WASSAIL & WAFFLES HOLIDAY FILM SERIES

A holiday tradition providing good cheer and free movies.

Collaborations & Special Projects

ART HOUSE THEATER DAY

A nationwide celebration of independent cinema offering free films and treats for patrons.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

The best in classic and contemporary theater productions from the British stage, artfully filmed, and co-presented with Tanner Humanities Center.

SLFS PRESENTS WITH KUED

Bringing the best in media storytelling to the community four times a year.

Visiting Film Artists & Panels

Examples from 2018 include a visit by Jimmy Chin for the Oscar-winning Free Solo, and local film directors and subjects from Church & State, a documentary about the legalization of gay marriage in Utah.

Film Fostering and Education Initiative

Our passion project, this initiative cultivates cinephiles and tomorrow’s filmmakers, offering free films for underserved children and young people. It educates artists and filmmakers so that they can contribute to Utah’s creative economy.

MEDIA ACCELERATOR STUDIO (MAST)

By offering contests, labs, mentorship, networking, and production assistance, MAST supports local filmmakers while building Utah into a “content creation” hub. The 2019 program has awarded $20,000 to contest winners and $100,000 in fellowship funds. MAST is a forward-thinking, content development program that harnesses the power of tech-enabled and animation storytelling. Current fellows are working on a range of topics, including displaced workers, traditional stories of Mexico, and restoring sight to the blind.

BIG PICTURES, LITTLE PEOPLE

A free program that encourages critical thinking through visual storytelling for 1,400 underserved children each summer.

TOWER ARCHIVE

Maintaining an educational and fun resource of more than 13,000 works of art in cinema.

IVORY TOWER SERIES

In collaboration with Westminster College, a student-curated lecture and film series for college cinema students to engage with the community.

SCHOOL GROUP TOURS

An educational experience that teaches students about the history of cinema through a behind-the-scenes look at a theater.

UTAH SCREENWRITERS PROJECT

Builds a writers’ community through workshops and professional mentorship. This project has fostered 150 Utah writers.