2 months ago
EXCLUSIVE: The Sundance Film Festival whitethorn person relocated retired of Utah but The Desertscape International Film Festival remains very overmuch successful authorities and will beryllium bookended by Sundance action If I Go Will They Miss Me, starring Danielle Brooks, and Lionsgate’s Paul Rudd-Nick Jonas movie Power Ballad.
The eighth version of nan festival, presented by nan Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU), runs April 1–4, pinch screenings and events centered astatine nan Electric Theater successful downtown St. George, Utah.
The show will showcase 50 features and shorts. Walter Thompson-Hernandez opener If I Go Will They Miss Me is simply a coming-of-age communicative astir a young boy trying to link pinch his distant begetter while navigating life successful nan Watts vicinity of Los Angeles. The movie was precocious acquired by Rich Spirit successful a adjacent $1M woody that includes U.S. authorities and prime world territories, pinch a autumn theatrical merchandise being planned.
John Carney’s person Power Ballad precocious had its North American premiere astatine SXSW. The synopsis reads: “When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band prima Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, nan 2 enslaved complete euphony and a late-night jam session. But erstwhile Danny turns 1 of Rick’s songs into nan deed that reignites his career, Rick sets retired to reclaim nan nickname he believes he deserves.”
The lineup besides includes nan SXSW-premiering endurance documentary The Ascent, which follows a bilateral amputee attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, arsenic good arsenic nan world premiere of The Strawberry, a play from nan Plummer Brothers starring M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell.
Character character Doug Jones (The Shape of Water) is owed to look astatine nan show successful support of 2 films making their world premieres astatine Desertscape: nan aforementioned The Strawberry and nan short Pretty Boys. Desertscape will besides big a scope of workshops and panels including an independent movie finance shop hosted by Stephen Mastrocola of Buffalo 8.
“Desertscape is back, and we’re celebrating its momentous 8th twelvemonth pinch a lineup that promises to beryllium nan strongest yet,” said John Pugh, FMASU Vice President and Desertscape 2026 Festival Director. “We cautiously curated a action of films, engaging workshops, and enlightening filmmaker panels to make twelvemonth 8 an unforgettable acquisition for movie enthusiasts.”
