Salt Lake native Robyn Leary has returned to take over the reigns of the Utah Film and Video Center after two decades away. She's been working in New Orleans, New York City and Washington, D.C., in the areas of broadcast writing and production, print journalism and public relations.
A graduate of East High School, with a philosophy degree from the University of Utah, Leary hopes to bolster the Utah Film and Video Center's reputation as a haven for "alternative, as well as mainstream" movies and videos.Leary says one of her first orders of business is to organize the Native American Film Festival, for which there is an open call for entries. "The deadline is Jan. 15," Leary said, "and we have solicited work from 12 Indian nations, ranging from home videos to features."
She is also working on a dance film festival and a jazz film festival for later in the year.
The center is gearing up, as well, for the annual Short Film and Video Festival, which, in the past, has received enormous response from independent filmmakers around the country.
Ongoing classes in film study and various aspects of production in association with the U. Division of Continuing Education are also offered, and production and post-production facilities are available for general use.
The Utah Film and Video Center is located in the Salt Lake Art Center, 20 S. West Temple. For further information on the center's activities and facilities, phone 534-1158.