FilmQuest


FilmQuest is an international film festival for genre films held annually in Provo, Utah, United States. It premieres and awards both feature and short films, and hosts celebrities, artists, filmmakers, industry reps and press from the fantastic, sci-fi and horror genres.
It is often cited as one of the most important genre festivals in the United States, being named twice as one of MovieMaker Magazine's 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World in 2024 and 2023, 50 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World in 2021 and 2019, and six times named one of their 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2015, as well as one of Dread Central's Best Horror Festivals in the World in both 2022 and 2021.
WWW filmquestfest.comFB FilmQuestFestIG filmquest

History

FilmQuest was founded in 2014 by filmmaker Jonathan Martin, who has been serving as festival director.

Reception

DreadCentral panelists wrote that FilmQuest "has risen fast to become one of the coolest and most important genre festivals on the US circuit, with a fair selection and judging process that allows for indie discoveries in numerous categories".
MovieMaker panelists appreciated that screenings happen in one location, the Velour Live Music Gallery, and around Halloween, which allows for "unparalleled and fun networking events for the attending filmmakers", and the Q&A’s ensure that the audience gets a deep insight into the films.
As of March 2025, FilmQuest is the best reviewed festival on FilmFreeway, with over 450 positive reviews from selected filmmakers.

Awards

An international jury awards various feature and short film categories where nominees are announced, including the festival's flagship awards Best Feature Film and Grand Prize Best Short Film. The 2024 Grand Prize winner I'm Not a Robot went on to win the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.

Award winners and nominees

Sources:Best Feature Film
  • * 2024 winner: The Island Between Tides
  • ** 2024 nominees: Catch a Killer, Daughter of the Sun, Somnium, The Beldham, The Complex Forms, The Killgrin, Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox
  • * 2023 winner: The Deep Dark
  • * 2022 winner: Moon Garden
  • * 2021 winner: The Free Fall
  • * 2020 winner: The Mortuary Collection
  • * 2019 winner: Daniel Isn't Real
  • * 2018 winner: Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil
  • * 2017 winner: The Glass Coffin
  • * 2016 winner: Bear With Us
  • * 2015 winner: The House at the End of Time
  • * 2014 winner: CrawlspaceGrand Prize Best Short Film
  • * 2024 winner: I'm Not a Robot
  • ** 2024 nominees: Fishmonger, Hearts of Stone, Wake, Sweet Molly, /Haaw/, Universe 25, Faces, To Hell With You
  • * 2023 winner: Escape Attempt
  • ** 2023 nominees: , Fck’n Nuts, Juggernaut, Murder Camp, Sincopat, Terror, To Err Best Found Footage Feature
  • * 2024 winner: Hunting Matthew Nichols
  • ** 2024 nominees: Strange Harvest
  • * 2023 winner: Frogman
  • ** 2023 nominees: Zombie Strain Best Found Footage Short
  • * 2024 winner: Body Worn Video
  • ** 2023 nominees: Treadmill
  • * 2023 winner: Angel Hare
  • ** 2023 nominees: Haunted by Nikola Tesla, Salvage, Spiral to the Center, Thin SkinnedBest Comedy Short
  • * 2024 winner: To Hell With YouBest Fantastic & Beyond Short
  • * 2024 winner: FacesBest Fantasy Short
  • * 2024 winner: Hearts of StoneBest Foreign Short
  • * 2024 winner: I'm Not a Robot
  • ** 2024 nominees: Birdcage, Coléoptère, Dead End, Empty Jars, Fisitor, La Croix, Replacement, The Bomb, The Red Stone Best Horror Short
  • * 2024 winner: WakeBest Micro Short
  • * 2024 winner: EscapeBest Mini Short
  • * 2024 winner: One Happy CustomerBest Midnight Short
  • * 2024 winner: /Haaw/Best Sci-Fi Short
  • * 2024 winner: Universe 25Best Student Short
  • * 2024 winner: FishmongerBest Utah Short
  • * 2024 winner: Sweet MollyBest Animated Short
  • * 2024 winner: ShimmerBest Documentary Short
  • * 2024 winner: Born to HustleBest Music Video
  • * 2024 winner: Sacrament The Minerva Award
  • * 2024 winner: Talia Shea Levin for Make Me A PizzaBest Director – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: The Beldham – Angela GulnerBest Screenplay – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: Tim Travers & the Time Traveler’s Paradox – Stimson SneadBest Actor – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: Tim Travers & the Time Traveler’s Paradox – Samuel DunningBest Actress – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: Somnium – Chloë LevineBest Supporting Actor – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: Scared Shitless – Steven OggBest Supporting Actress – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: The Beldham – Patricia HeatonBest Ensemble Cast – Feature
  • * 2024 winner: The Complex FormsBest Cinematography – FeatureBest Editing – FeatureBest Sound – FeatureBest Score – FeatureBest Production Design/Art Direction – FeatureBest Costumes – FeatureBest Visual Effects – FeatureBest Makeup – FeatureBest Director – ShortBest Screenplay – ShortBest Actor – ShortBest Actress – ShortBest Supporting Actor – ShortBest Supporting Actress – ShortBest Ensemble Cast – ShortBest Cinematography – ShortBest Editing – ShortBest Sound – ShortBest Score – ShortBest Production Design/Art Direction – ShortBest Costumes – ShortBest Visual Effects – ShortBest Makeup – ShortBest Un-Produced Screenplay – Feature
  • '''Best Un-Produced Screenplay – Short'''