The Salt Lake Underground Film Festival (SLUFF) is a film festival devoted to showcasing the latest work by emerging and established filmmakers around the world. Every year over ten thousand filmmakers scrape together what little money they have left and submit their films to the Sundance Film Festival in the hopes of catching a break and screening at the most prestigious independent film festival
in the world. Yet for 99% of those filmmakers instead of getting their chance, they receive disappointment in the form of a rejection letter. Which led us to ask: Why, during one of the most important gatherings of celebrities, producers and industry professionals in the world aren't their more opportunities for filmmakers to show their work and get discovered? With that idea in mind The Salt Lake Underground Film Festival was born and with it a new idea for leveling the playing field for independent filmmakers to screen their films and take advantage of the countless opportunities the Sundance Film Festival has to offer even to those not in the official festival. The most important part of SLUFF are the heroes who make it happen: The filmmakers. As filmmakers ourselves, we understand the challenges the lie ahead for any film once it is "In the can". During Sundance, Park City comes alive with entertainment professionals and celebrities from around the world. We believe that by providing filmmakers a screening time and place it will give them a unique opportunity to not only have their work discovered but to make connections with like minded individuals from all walks of life. By providing an alternative film festival in Park City easily accessible to all Sundance participants SLUFF will provide a burst of energy to the films it shows and it will encourage filmmakers to continue to create new and meaningful work. Films are followed by audience Q&A sessions and an informal festival lounge set-up will give SLUFF participants a space to relax and exchange ideas (and hopefully enter into distribution deals!). SLUFF is a competitive film festival and not all films submitted will be selected for in theater screening, however all filmmakers will have the opportunity to screen in the SLUFF online film festival that will run at the same time and will be available to festival-goers. For filmmakers who want to make sure their film has a screening date and time during SLUFF we have created a filmmaker partner program. For a one time fee, filmmakers can become a festival partner and bypass the selection process by reserving a screening date and time exclusively for their project. Secure in the knowledge their film will be shown they can focus on the business of inviting a specific audience of producers, distributors or other industry decision makers to their show, many of whom will already be in Park City specifically to watch films. We will measure our success in seeing all of our filmmakers get their talent, persistence and hard work seen and recognized. All films selected for SLUFF will also be in competition for awards announced at the end of festival during the closing ceremony.
