New short films and documentary features — all of them made locally — are on this week's schedule of specialty films:
THE UTAH SHORT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL winds up its 21st edition with a screening of selected short works Friday, June 14 and a "Best-of-Show" awards program Saturday, June 15.
The national competition showcases 16mm, Super-8 and video works of up to 25 minutes in length. The festival includes all styles, forms and genres, and those selected for special recognition will be screened during the awards program.
According to organizer and programmer Kent Maxwell, the goal of the festival is "to celebrate the diversity in film and video and to give artists a chance to have their work seen by an audience in Salt Lake. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to single out a few works for special recognition."
The programs will be screened on video. They are not rated but may contain some PG-13 level material. Show time for each program is 8 p.m. in the Salt Lake Art Center's Creer Auditorium, 20 S. West Temple.
Admission for each evening's program is $6 general admission and $5 for students and members of the Utah Film and Video Center. For specific program times and for more information on selected entries, call 534-1158.
TUCKER T. DANSIE presents Unwound 2002, a collection of short works by the local filmmaker, Saturday, June 15, in the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts, on the Westminster College campus.
The program will include seven of Dansie's short films, which are suitable for all ages. Most of the shorts are comedies, except for the newest, "The Lesson," a drama about a rather unique piano student.
Show time is 7 p.m. Admission is free.
More information about Dansie, his films and Unwound 2002 can be found on his Web site www.tuckertdansie.com/unwound, which includes a map to the Jewett Center.
THE LOCALLY MADE DOCUMENTARY "Chasing a Good Day to Die" will begin a special one-week engagement Friday, June 14, in the Consolidated Broadway Center Theatres 6, 111 E. 300 South.
Paul Larsen's film examines his efforts to relieve his teenage son's depression, which include attending an American Indian peyote ceremony. It also presents a brief history of peyote use and the legal controversies surrounding peyote, as well as stories of others who have used those ceremonies to treat psychological ailments.
"Chasing a Good Day to Die" will be screened on digital video. The film is not rated but would probably receive a PG-13 rating due to drug content.
For more information, call the theater, 359-2112, or browse the Web site www.chasingagooddaytodie.com
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com