FilmQuest Film Festival 2023 Releases Full Screening Schedule

The genre film festival FilmQuest has revealed its full screening and event line-up for its upcoming 2023 event! The film festival is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, and it’s got an exciting line-up of feature films and shorts.

I’ve been attending this event since it first launched and GeekTyrant is proudly one of its sponsors. This event is so much fun, and it’s grown so much over the past several years. While we are a sponsor, in all seriousness, this is one of my favorite film festival events to attend. They always have a collection of great films to screen and the people you meet are just awesome good people.

The festival takes place from October 26th to November 4th. Below I’ve provided details on the events, labs, workshops, special guests, and screenings. Check it out!

TENTATIVE GUEST LABS & WORKSHOPS **DETAILS PENDING** INCLUDE: Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Star Trek: Discovery), Academy Award winning Makeup FX Artist Joel Harlow (Star Trek, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Panther), Composer Chris Bacon (Wednesday, Bates Motel), Costume Designer Shawna Trpcic (Ashoka, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett), Sound Designer Patrick Hogan (Cobra Kai, The Umbrella Academy), Emmy Winning Casting Director Steven Tyler O’Connor (The Healing Powers of Dude, 13 Reasons Why), Film Distributors David Lawrence (Glass House Distribution) and Gato Scatena (Scatena & Rosner Films), MovieMaker Magazine Film Production Services Pitch Sessions, and working on a Screenwriting Lab – all most likely starting around 10am or between screenings.

This is the Official Schedule for the 2023 FilmQuest Festival. All screenings, labs, panels, workshops and events will be held at Velour Live Music Gallery, with other events around Downtown Provo unless otherwise noted. Start preparing your 2023 FilmQuest experience today!

Tickets are ON SALE THIS WEEKEND via Entertainment Oxygen (Virtual & Live Screenings) & FilmFreeway (Local Screenings)!

The VIRTUAL EXCLUSIVES and VIRTUAL SCREENINGS of the festival will be available via a Virtual Pass at Entertainment Oxygen and the EO App. The virtual screenings will require a pass purchased through EO, or given to a participating filmmaker with a film in the festival lineup.

ALL films will be available virtually, even those playing physically unless otherwise noted. A selection of films will only be available exclusively via our virtual platform on Entertainment Oxygen , while a selection will only be available in-person. Please consult the schedule, film info pages, and upcoming 2023 Program Guide for more details.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26th

12:00 PM
Check-In Begins
@ Velour, Downtown Provo
Arrive early and get settled. Check-in for the physical portion of the 2023 FilmQuest begins! Here you’ll get registered, receive your swag bag, VIP pass, and get the lowdown on the venue and what to expect. The earlier you are, the more you can get comfortable and prepare to enjoy the festival!

2:00 PM
“Get Your Goodie Bag” – Variety Shorts Block #1
The 2023 FilmQuest shorts lineup kicks off with an impressive offering of tasty delights from around the globe. You’ll need your passport stamped when you’re done with this batch! Films include: Bookworm, Dark Cell, La Nueva (The Newcomer), Lands of Steel, Requiem, Spoor, Terror, and Trapped

5:00 PM
“A Taste of Things to Come” – Variety Shorts Block #2
Another delectable offering of short films bring an assortment of terrors, strange wonders, and awe-inspiring visuals. Warm up by the fire, things are going to get toasty in here! Films include: Cornerboy, Kiddo, Middle Watch, Quiet, Shallots and Garlic, Ten With a Flag, The Black Box, Upside (PLS&TY), Visitors

7:00 PM
Opening Night Red Carpet
Glam up and get some red carpet photos, where you’ll feel like the movie star you are! Have fun with your family, friends, cast, and crew on the 30 foot FilmQuest red carpet!

8:15 PM
“He Never Left” – Opening Night Feature
Straight out of the dark heart of Utah, our Opening Night sci-fi feature film He Never Left comes at you to show you how the business is done! Includes the Utah made short horror films Hannah Harbor and Poolside Inn.

10:30 PM
Opening Night Dinner
@TBD
After the Opening Night feature and shorts, we’ll head on over to one of Provo’s great restaurants and enjoy the opening of FilmQuest with a delicious meal. Location TBD.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27th

11:00 AM
“Fantastic Worlds & Strange Discoveries” –  The Beyond Shorts Block #3
Films include: Booba, Heptapus, Hit Man: Secrets of Lies, Martyr of a Forgotten Dream, The Loop: Undeniable, Vestige, and Waving

2:00 PM
“Zombie Strain” – Friday Feature Matinee 
Includes the short films Content: The Lo-Fi Man and P.F. Chang’s Signature Rice.

5:00 PM
“We Are All Made of Stars” – Sci-Fi Shorts Block #4
Films include: Frequencies, Gutter, Lux Chroma, Remote, Salvage, Septichexen, T-Minus, The Last Embrace, and The Universe and You

8:00 PM
“Double Blind” – Friday Night Feature
Includes the short films L’abattu des vents, Ringing Rocks, and the music video Old Flames.

10:00 PM
Opening Weekend Dinner Meet & Greet
@TBD
We’ll get our hungry selves on over to Fat Daddy’s Pizza for some pizza and beers, meet and greet the filmmakers already in town, and get prepared for the adventure of FilmQuest together!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th

11:00 AM
“Does It Tickle When We Touch Like That?” –  Comedy Shorts Block #5
Films include: 24/7, Casual Vignettes of Gilded Vulgarity, Five Stars, Headless: A Sleepy Hollow Story, Justus: Seaghan Destory, Murder Camp, Pear, String, The Jellyfish Man, and Work Life

2:00 PM
“The Last Movie Ever Made” – Saturday Matinee Feature 
Includes the animated short films A Beaver’s Tale and Dandelion, and the short film Radio Telescope.

5:00 PM
“Hippo” – Saturday Night Feature #1
Includes the short film Velma

8:00 PM
“The Hyperborian” – Saturday Night Feature #2
Includes the short films Awake and Hideous Heart

11:00 PM
“Midnight Madness: The Revenge” – Midnight Shorts Block #6
Films include: All I Need, Cafe Cicatriz, Dead Enders, Drifter, For the Safety of Theo, High Fun, Hunter, In Your Hands, Nosepicker, Revolution Maker, The Mantis, The Third Ear, and The Foul

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29th

11:00 AM
Filmmaker Luncheon #1
@ TBD, Downtown Provo
The sooner you arrive, the quicker you’ll be settled and served as it’s going to be packed! You’ll have 2 hours to eat, chat, and make new friends until the screenings begin again at 2:00 pm!

2:00 PM
“No One’s Getting Out of Here Alive” – Horror Shorts Block #7
Films include: 4 Little Angels, Captive, Dead Connection, Dysmorphia, Facies, Make You Wanna Cry, Merger, Night Nurse, Saint-Sacrifice, and Slashr

5:00 PM
“Me, Myself & The Void” – Sunday Matinee Feature
Includes the short films Scam and The Ghost Light

8:00 PM
“Lock Your Doors and Get the Axe” – Horror Shorts Block #8
 Films include: Bye-Bye, Interference, Let It Kill You, Lure, POV, Storm, The Hunt, They Call It… Red Cemetary!, Toggle, Up on the Housetop, and Yule Cat

10:00 PM
Opening Weekend Halloween Party
@ The Social, Downtown Provo
It’s Summer Camp at Camp Cthulhu! Dress up in your best retro summer camp outfit, whether you’re a boy scout, girl scout, camp counselor, Jason, a horny teenager, etc. This is your time to pull up those socks and wear those short shorts as we party the night away celebrating Halloween and the 10th annual FilmQuest!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30th

11:00 AM
“In this World, You Use It or You Lose It” – Fantastic Shorts Block #9
Films include: Dixieland, Fungus, Pink Reef, The Girl With the Haunted Vagina, The Legend of King Kang-Mi, Unkind Cut, Wesley Loses His Penis, Where the Witch Lives, and Wraith

2:00 PM
“Black Mold” – Monday Matinee Feature
Includes the short films Cover Your Ears and Jeong-Dong (Affects)

5:00 PM
“The Wait” – Monday Night Feature
Includes the short film Voyager

7:00 PM
Utah Red Carpet
Glam up and get your red carpet photos! A red carpet dedicated to the Utah filmmakers, although all are invited! Have fun with your family, friends, cast, and crew on the 30 foot FilmQuest red carpet!

8:00 PM
“The Beehive Feast” – Utah Shorts Block #10
Utah comes back at ya with a selection of the very best genre shorts made in the state over the past year. Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond will be your delight as you indulge in the best of what the Beehive State has to offer. Films include: An Arrangement of Skin, Body of Work, Box Boy, Bull Rider, ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL, Munch, Saborrrr!, Sacrament, The Handbook, To Err, Ummm, and Will the Circle Be Unbroken

10:00 PM
Monday Night Mingle – Game Night
@ FilmQuest Filmmaker Lounge
We’ll cap off the day with a low-key night of games and vintage arcades at our Filmmaker Lounge. Defeat Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, dunk on faces in NBA JAM, save the galaxy with Atari’s Star Wars, match wits in Cards Against Humanity, and more. A night of games and face-offs will go on as long as you want to keep mingling and having fun!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31st

11:00 AM
“The Six Demon Bag” – Grab Bag Shorts Block #11
Films include: A Little Help?, Angel Hare, Dead Dreams Falling, Deliverance, Haunted by Nikkola Tesla, Leverage, Sincopat, The Inflection Scheme, The Stand-Up, and Vespa

2:00 PM
“Kill Your Lover” Tuesday Matinee Feature
Includes the short films Hide Your Crazy, Leech, Strange Bedfellows, The Stand-Up and the music video Kill for Your Love

5:00 PM
“Laugh, You Sucker!” – Comedic Shorts Block #12
Films include: Baby Face, Bounce House, Gold and Mud, Goo Darts, Overnights, Sucker, The Haunted Baby Carriage from Hell, Variations on a Theme, Victim No. 6, and Violet Butterfield: Makeup Artist for the Dead

8:00 PM
“The Deep Dark” – Tusday Night Feature
Includes the films Alicia and The Spirit Became Flesh

10:00 PM
Hatchet Throwing Party or Haunted House Field Trip
@ Heber Hatchets or Haunted Forest
Who is the biggest and baddest lumberjack around? Got what it takes? Then prove it as we go out to throw Hatchets like our grandparents did at Heber Hatchets. We’re taking to what is always a popular event, so build up that arm strength – you’re going to need it! ORRRRRRR we’er going to rent a couple buses and go to one of Utah’s top haunts near Provo, The Haunted Forest! More to come!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st

11:00 AM
“See With Eyes Born Anew” – Fantasy Shorts Block #13
Films include: Clemency, Forlorn, Juggernaut, LIV, Spiderlily, The Ringmaster, The Sin-Eater, Things Visible and Invisible, and ZZZ

2:00 PM
“A Disturbance in the Force” – Wednesday Documentary Feature
Includes the short films Fun, Gus!, The Storm Chaser, Tower Theatre and the animated short film The Dark Odyssey 2: The Ice Nexus

5:00 PMs
“Conquer Your Demons” – Horror & Thriller Shorts Block #14
Films include: A Dire Strait, Before I Go, Pruning, The Fledgling, The Forgotten, Volition, What Lies Within, and Whisper

8:00 PM
“How to Kill Monsters” – Wednesday Night Feature
Includes the short films The Heritage, The Lure and The Management

10:00 PM
Karaoke Party
@ The Social, Downtown Provo
It’s another time to party, and an opportunity to show the world that you were truly destined to become the next Rock n’ Roll God! Mix, mingle, network, and build your legend on the stage as we rock the night away! Catered food and drink will be provided for an extra fee.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd

11:00 AM
“My Mom Says I’m Funny” – Comedy Shorts Block #15
Films include: Abandon, Bento Banana, Dog Breath, Don’t Let Kyle Sit Down, Old Time Radio: Your Move, Quiet! Mom’s Working, Seeing Other People, The 44th Chamber of Shaolin, The Orb, They Grow Up So Fast, and Too Slow

2:00 PM
“Frogman” – Thursday Matinee Feature
Includes the short films The Princess and the Formaldehyde Specimen, The Forest King and Toad Boy

5:00 PM
“Through Infinity We Chase Our Falling Stars” – Sci-Fi Shorts Block #16
Films include: Alone, Autopilot, Closing Time, Eject, Ensouled, Entrainment, From Above, GOV.OS, Homecoming, Human Resources, Lost in the Sky, and TLG

8:00 PM
“Hundreds of Beavers” – Thursday Night Feature
Includes the short film Look! The Invisible Man and the animated short film Regular Rabbit

11:00 PM
“Midnight Madness 2: The Revenge of the Revenginator” – Shorts Block #17
Films include: Ashes in the Wind, Bag for Life, Decay Process, Engulfed, Eyestring, Fck’n Nuts, Finger Bang Your Day, Fudgie Freddie, Gummies, Heart of Vengeance, High Stakes, Hit and Run, Lord, Ride Baby Ride, Sempre Avanti, Shoes Off, Sneak Over, Sugar Rag, Tooth, We Forgot About the Zombies, and You Have Reached Your Destination

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd

11:00 AM
Filmmaker Luncheon + Speed Dating Event
@ Bistro Provenance, Downtown Provo
Hosted by the newest restaurant in Downtown Provo, the French themed Bistro Provenance, will be our filmmaker luncheon and get together. The sooner you arrive, the quicker you’ll be settled and served as it’s going to be packed! You’ll have 2 hours to eat, chat, and make new friends until the fabled filmmaker speed dating event starts at 1 PM.Then our fabled and original Filmmaker Speed Dating networking event is back! You’ll get to meet everyone at the festival and find out how you can help each other with your productions and projects in this rapid fire meet and greet session that will tire you out – but will be well worth it for all the connections you’ll make!

2:00 PM
“Bang a Gong and Get It On!” – Variety Show Shorts Block #18
Films include: [subtext],A Cotton Moon, A Sweet Tooth, Accidental Stars, Judgement Day, Nash, No 8 Reporting, Not Us, Robbie Ain’t Right No More, and Virgil’s Rings

5:00 PM
“All You Need is Blood” – Friday Nigth Feature #1
Includes the short film Farmer Ed and the animated short film Demons in the Closet

8:00 PM
“New Life” – Friday Night Feature #2
Includes the short films Get Away, Shelter Half, and The Reclaimers

11:00 PM
“You Only Revenge Twice” – Horror Shorts Block #19
Films include: A Suit and a Straight Razor, Are You Awake?, Candor, I Could Just Die… and That Would Be All Right, Make It Stop, Meadowville, Red Velvet, The Invaders, The Perfect Place to Cry, Thin Skinned, and Worry No More

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4th

11:00 AM
“A Highway to Hell” – Horror Shorts Block #20
Films include: 13 Steps, A Good Scream, D I G, Honk, No Overnight Parking, Oddities, Ten of Swords, The Drawing, and The Queue

2:00 PM
“Irati” – Closing Night Feature
Includes the short film Villain

5:00 PM
“10 Years of Fantastic!” – Closing Night Shorts Block #21
The 2023 FilmQuest closes the book on 10 years of Fantastic! We move into the infinite with a block of shorts that prove all things are possible when we give ourselves to the Beyond and let Cthulhu take us! Films include: Come Home, Escape Attempt, Evenveil, In the Heat, My Scary Indian Wedding, Recollector, The Voice in the Hollow, and ZIB

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Pre-Awards Show Red Carpet
The end of FilmQuest 2023 upon us! Time to get your best tie and dress on, look like a rock star, and celebrate in style. Photos and interviews (as available) before the big shebang. Take pictures with all your friends looking your slickest!

9:00 PM
Closing Night Awards Show
Time to find out, once and for all, who the winners from the 2023 FilmQuest lineup are. Is it you? Is it them? Is it us? Let’s all find out together in this fun, audio/visual spectacle! A live feed will be provided for those watching virtually.

10:00 PM
Post Awards Show Red Carpet
The closing night awards show has come to an end, and at long last we know who has claimed a coveted Cthulhu! Get your picture taken, enjoy victory with friends, and celebrate together, one and all, for one last time on the FilmQuest red carpet for the 2023 festival!

11:00 PM
Closing Night Party
@ The Social, Downtown Provo
At long last, FilmQuest 2023 is officially over and ten years of Fantastic have led way to the next ten. Celebrate the festival, your victories, new friendships and collaboration, and more before you all bid adieu until next time. Catering and drink to be provided with extra fee.

VIRTUAL EXCLUSIVE SCREENINGS via ENTERTAINMENT OXYGEN
OCTOBER 26th – NOVEMBER 12th

While all films at FilmQuest, unless otherwise noted, will also play with their respective blocks virtually via the Entertainment Oxygen and the EO App, there are a selection of films that will only be playing virtually. These are made of films that have filmmakers who indicated they cannot attend the festival in-person, most notably due to the ongoing travel concerns and other restraints. Thus, FilmQuest again expanded its lineup this year to account for this current reality, while still showcasing many great films from around the world in its competition lineup.

Virtual meetups and workshops/labs are still TBD.

The following films and blocks are available only through FilmQuest’s virtual partner Entertainment Oxygen. Please register and purchase a pass via EO today in order to access and watch these incredible films that are guaranteed to wow and inspire awe. The films will be available with the rest of the lineup on Entertainment Oxygen only from October 26th – November 12th, 2023 with a purchased virtual pass.

American Meltdown
Virtual Exclusive Feature Film #1 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
A ‘Millennial Coming-of-Rage’ dark comedy about a young woman who loses her job and struggles to pay rent – until she befriends a pickpocket who convinces her that the only way to survive in America is by committing petty crime.

Citizen Sleuth
Virtual Exclusive Feature #2 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
A true crime podcaster from Appalachia blurs the line between fact and entertainment as she investigates the mysterious death of a local girl. Citizen Sleuth examines the ethics of the true crime genre and how the power of narrative affects truth, victims, and communities.

My Mother’s Eyes
Virtual Exclusive Feature #3 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
Both Hitomi and her daughter Eri are cellists. One day, they are involved in a traffic accident and Hitomi loses her sight. She wears camera-equipped contact lenses and Eri, injured and hospitalized, wears VR goggles, and the two share one vision.

The Wheel of Heaven
Virtual Exclusive Feature #4 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
A selection of incredible fantasy short films from across the globe, that also includes a dynamic selection of animated films that will blow you away. Films include: Bean Feasa (Wise Woman), Brightstar, Incomplete, Legs, Robot Tells a Joke, Rose, Savj, and Welcome

Horror & Thriller Shorts
Virtual Exclusive Shorts Block #1 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
Get your pulse racing, and feel the jolt of thrills and chills as you brace yourself for these tales from the dark side. Enjoy these horror & thriller short films from around the world… if you dare! Films include: A Deer Caught in the Headlights, BUG, Callus, English Tutor, Here to Stay, Lady and the Tramp, Surgical Precision, Tales from the Dark Web: Moira Hill, and The Tunnel

Pure Terror Horror Shorts
Virtual Exclusive Shorts Block #2 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
They say that our minds create fears that are worse than reality. “They” were wrong! Prepare yourself for these amazing horror shorts and hold fast! Films include: Caterpillar, Garbage Days, Hitched, Maryla, and That’s Our Time

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shorts
Virtual Exclusive Shorts Block #3 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
A rocket ship to Fantastic is all fueled and ready to blast off with you on board!  Prepare to explore strange new worlds with this collection of mind altering sci-fi and fantasy shorts. Films include: Book of the Old Ways, Elixir, Spiral to the Center, Sylvie Made It, The Christ of the Skull, They Come from the Sky, Unchained Melody, and We Hunt Giants

Comedy Shorts
Virtual Exclusive Shorts Block #4 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
It’s time to scratch that itch that’s been sitting on your funny bone! Here comes a series of film that will surely put a huge grin on your face and offer a truly knee slapping good time! Films include: Batshit Crazy, First-ish Contact, Justice for Batman, Knock Knock (Knock), Skewered, The Girl is Crying in Her Latte, Virgins for Satan, and Welcome to Candy’s

Animated Shorts
Virtual Exclusive Shorts Block #5 – Available via Entertainment Oxygen
Life is better when it’s animated. A kaleidoscope of color, stories, and adventure awaits with these incredible animated delights from around the globe! Films include: A Paw Over Dark, Innermost, Las Nogas, Mothership: The Awakening, The Discarded, and The Old Young Crow