Friday, February 27th | Rm 201
12:00-12:50 PM
Film festivals can be more than a screening — they can be a launchpad. This panel explores how filmmakers can approach the festival circuit with intention, strategy, and confidence. Learn how to maximize submissions, build meaningful connections, and position your project for the greatest impact, both creatively and professionally. Hear from a range of festival and industry voices, including ZIFF organizers, on their mission to help filmmakers maximize their goals through the festival experience.
MODERATOR: Michelle Moore
Featured Guests:
Jonathan Martin
Barrett Burgin
Guest Bios:
Jonathan Martin is the founder & director of FilmQuest, one of the world's premiere genre film festivals and 3x's running MovieMaker Magazine "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World." Hosted in Downtown Provo each fall, the festival has become known as one of the standard bearers for quality genre programming and industry networking in the festival space. He is also a filmmaker and through his production company, Bohemian Industries, films he has directed have won over 250 festival and industry awards while playing over 300 festivals worldwide, including several Oscar qualifiers, while also producing films for Academy Award winner Joel Harlow. He also designed Utah's new state flag in collaboration with Senator Dan McCay and Mark Brooks. He is based in Provo.
Barrett Burgin is an award-winning writer and director from South East Appalachia. After film school he sold his first feature film CRYO to Saban Films, which he directed while still a student. CRYO was featured on ScreenRant and Comic Book Resources. It was selected for and won multiple awards at notable genre festivals such as Cinequest, FilmQuest, Flickers' Vortex, and Blood in the Snow.
Barrett has also made several well-received and award winning short films, including The Next Door, Java Jive, The Angel, and A Scout is Kind. His work has played at Indy Shorts, Screamfest, and dozens of other established festivals, including Film Fest Knox’s prestige feature development lab. Noted for his special interests in religious identity, myth, and cultural representation, Barrett’s films often incorporate elements of his Latter-day Saint faith. His work is studied in collegiate courses.
Friday, February 27th | Rm 201
12:00-12:50 PM
Film festivals can be more than a screening — they can be a launchpad. This panel explores how filmmakers can approach the festival circuit with intention, strategy, and confidence. Learn how to maximize submissions, build meaningful connections, and position your project for the greatest impact, both creatively and professionally. Hear from a range of festival and industry voices, including ZIFF organizers, on their mission to help filmmakers maximize their goals through the festival experience.
MODERATOR: Michelle Moore
Featured Guests:
Jonathan Martin
Barrett Burgin
Guest Bios:
Jonathan Martin is the founder & director of FilmQuest, one of the world's premiere genre film festivals and 3x's running MovieMaker Magazine "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World." Hosted in Downtown Provo each fall, the festival has become known as one of the standard bearers for quality genre programming and industry networking in the festival space. He is also a filmmaker and through his production company, Bohemian Industries, films he has directed have won over 250 festival and industry awards while playing over 300 festivals worldwide, including several Oscar qualifiers, while also producing films for Academy Award winner Joel Harlow. He also designed Utah's new state flag in collaboration with Senator Dan McCay and Mark Brooks. He is based in Provo.
Barrett Burgin is an award-winning writer and director from South East Appalachia. After film school he sold his first feature film CRYO to Saban Films, which he directed while still a student. CRYO was featured on ScreenRant and Comic Book Resources. It was selected for and won multiple awards at notable genre festivals such as Cinequest, FilmQuest, Flickers' Vortex, and Blood in the Snow.
Barrett has also made several well-received and award winning short films, including The Next Door, Java Jive, The Angel, and A Scout is Kind. His work has played at Indy Shorts, Screamfest, and dozens of other established festivals, including Film Fest Knox’s prestige feature development lab. Noted for his special interests in religious identity, myth, and cultural representation, Barrett’s films often incorporate elements of his Latter-day Saint faith. His work is studied in collegiate courses.
