Utah will serve as the backdrop for two upcoming film productions — including a documentary that follows the investigation into the lost likeness of Joseph Smith.
The Utah Film Commission announced Friday the Utah Board of Tourism Development approved two new productions for state film incentives — further expanding Utah’s pipeline of upcoming projects and bolstering its reputation as an emerging film hub.
The two productions will begin filming this summer across Utah, Salt Lake and Sanpete counties, generating an estimated $250,000 economic impact for the state. Both films received support through the Community Film Incentive Program, which aims to foster local talent and further strengthen Utah’s growing local film industry.
Among the approved productions is “Brother Joseph Again,” a documentary following two researchers as they investigate the lost likeness of Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“‘Brother Joseph Again’ is a rigorous search for what Joseph Smith truly looked like,” said director Daylen Pollard. “We chose to film in Utah because of its exceptional experts, creative talent, and deep connection to the history and culture behind this story.”
Also approved is “Psycho Cabin,” a comedy thriller from local filmmaker Rob Diamond that follows two strangers who chance upon a dead body in a remote cabin in Utah’s mountains. Each suspects the other is the killer, turning on one another as a dangerous presence lurks in the surrounding woods.
“I chose Utah because I love all the beauty that it has to offer and the amazing cast and crew available to me,” Diamond said. “I’ve been making movies in Utah for over 25 years and want to continue to add to this thriving film community.”
The 2026 Utah Legislature approved $3 million in ongoing funding for the Rural Film Incentive program. Over the last four years, participating productions have spent more than $200 million in 28 counties.
“We are proud to see these original local stories brought to life through our Community Film Incentive Program,” said Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission.
She continued, “Supporting these community-based films is essential to our mission, as it not only showcases the talent and stunning landscapes of our state but also ensures that the film industry in Utah continues to grow from the ground up.”
Moving into 2027, Utah is ready for film production on a statewide level as all 29 counties are prepared to support productions with location, local coordination and community support, the commission announced in January.
“We’ve cultivated a thriving ecosystem of talent, infrastructure and incentives that will continue to attract filmmakers and productions to our beautiful state,” Pearce shared in a January statement.
Pearce added, “We remain focused on investing in a strong film industry, one that drives our creative economy and inspires the next generation of artists and audiences. We believe that Utah is a place full of innovation and creativity. We want to see that thrive and grow organically.”
Utah’s diverse landscape and neighborhoods have provided backdrops for thousands of movies and other film productions over the last century and continue to entice filmmakers.
High-profile films such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Footloose,” “Forrest Gump” and Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” were filmed in Utah, as well as dozens of Disney movies such as “High School Musical” and “The Luck of the Irish.”
During the last year, the Utah Film Commission announced more than 30 additional projects approved for state film incentives, including another installment of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” a “Yellowstone” spinoff series, a seventh season of “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” a final season of “The Chosen” and several independent feature films.
How do film incentives in Utah work?
Utah offers two main film incentive programs — the Motion Picture Incentive Program and the Community Film Incentive Program — that both help productions stretch their budget by giving tax credits or cash rebates for money spent in the state, per the Utah Film Commission.
The Motion Picture Incentive Program
- Applies to big movies, documentaries and TV shows
- To qualify, 75% of cast and crew must be Utah residents and 75% of production days must occur in rural Utah
- Productions that qualify can earn a fully refundable tax credit of up to 25% of in-state spend
The Community Film Incentive Program
- Applies to smaller projects, particularly local filmmakers
- To qualify, the director, writer or producer must be a Utah resident and 85% of cast and crew must be Utah residents
- Productions that qualify can earn a cash rebate of up to 20%
The incentive programs are not available for productions such as commercials or campaigns, infomercials, sporting events, news, live broadcasts or award shows.
Some of the other factors the Utah Film Commission considers before approving a production for an incentive program include: the number of jobs created in Utah, number of production days in Utah, local cast and crew wages, ability to highlight Utah as a tourist destination, whether the production reflects positively on Utah, and the production’s projected economic impact on Utah.