Utah Film Center is excited to be back again this summer with their Summer Outdoor Film Series. Started in 2020, the event has been hosted at Liberty Park since 2021. 

“Liberty Park is a great venue. I enjoy working with the city department of public lands,” said Russell Roots, director of film exhibition. Having this film festival activates the park in a great way. The residents of the park attend the screening, and people just passing by can attend as well and enjoy a free movie. The film series draws an average of about 300-400 attendees. The weather plays a big part in how many people attend. If it is good weather and not windy or rainy, people will attend the films. Roots is responsible for delivering innovative and professional films to Utah audiences. The film exhibition is responsible for managing the UFC’s Black culture program. He is also program manager for Black, Bold and Brilliant. 

“We show the power of storytelling through film with Utah audiences, primarily Salt Lake City,”  Roots said. The film center is known for PBS documentaries. They are doing more family fun films that will attract an audience with kids. The films start at 9:15 p.m. and go until around 11:30 p.m. 

This summer the festival is highlighting one of their programs with the production that will be shown each night. They have a film about their Black, Bold and Brilliant program that talks about Black culture issues using film as a mirror to talk about community. There are two films that are locally made, one is a feature film that was shot at the Bonneville Salt Flats and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Another film will be a collection of short films made by local film makers. There will be pre-film activities for families. Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids will be showing the Oscar-nominated “Robot Dreams.” Artists Foundry will showcase a collection of local short films. Then the last film they will showcase is from the Utah Queer Festival. “All the films are great, they draw hundreds of people, folks sing along, there will be music, there will be games, folks playing frisbee, there are dogs and kids. It is very fun. There will be a vendor who will sell treats for anybody that wants a snack,” Roots said. 

For more information about these films go to utahfilmcenter.org/outdoor. λ