Below, you’ll find the prep list and need-to-know essentials to get you ready for the Fall 2022 FilmQuest. This page will be updated as needs be, so do check-in and feel free to ask questions that may help us update this page if needed. This page will also cover ALL the need to know essentials, so do be sure to read through it if you’re planning to participate so we’re all on the same page moving forward.
Virtual Festival Links
This Virtual Fest page, which is being listed privately, will only be accessible to filmmakers from this season, press, your cast, crews, family & friends as you desire to share it, and also past FilmQuest alumni. We’ll also be granting access to those who submitted to the 2022 festival as a special thank you. The page will be updated frequently with information and links as needs be to get access to the virtual screenings, mixers, and workshops, so come to it often as this is your portal to accessing the festival.
Virtual Fest Access Page (private): Coming Oct. 26, 2022
Virtual Fest Password: TBD
Virtual Festival Meetup
We’ll be using GATHER to get everyone together for the fest virtually. It’ll be available and open during the festival dates, and will be the main portal for those who will not be able to attend the festival in-person. So come in, turn on your webcam, play some games, and enjoy the fest together.
Gather – for virtual meetups/mingle (may need to register): Coming October 2022
Gather Password: TBD
Fest Schedule & Program Guide
Program Guide & Info: TBD
Fest Schedule: TBD
Hotel – Discounted Rate Expires October
Hyatt Place Hotel booking link ($119 per room per night): Hotel Discount Link (click me)
Hyatt Place Discount code: G-FLMQ
*IMPORTANT NOTE: While we recommend looking for anywhere to stay in and around Provo based on your budget, we are currently no longer partnered with the Marriott Downtown Provo. While a great venue, we fight to get the best rates for our guests and highly recommend booking through the Hyatt – only a block from the venue and a three minute walk – while rooms are available.
In-Person Check-In, Festival & Special Event Passes
1.) When you arrive, come to the front check-in desk and Jonna (our Assistant Director) or a member of our staff will check you and your team in. You will also be given a temperature check and sign the liability waiver.
2.) Feature films are allotted two festival passes each. Short films, screenplays (unless they have more than one writer, etc.), web series, etc. are allotted one festival pass per project.
3.) If you have additional cast & crew with you that aren’t covered by the above festival pass rules, they will need to buy the VIP pass for $100.
4.) While basic entry to our SPECIAL EVENT PARTIES (details coming soon) is covered by the filmmaker and VIP passes, we will need to charge an additional fee for the catered food and drink if you wish to partake. While we’re still finalizing those costs – prepare for them to be between $20 and $40 for each. We do this in part to comply with Utah liquor laws, which allows us to serve alcohol in an unlicensed venue via a “drink pass.” If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
5.) During check-in, we will also be scheduling you for your complimentary on-site portraits with our festival photographer as well as on-site interviews with our videographer. Don’t miss this appointment, as we’ll only have a few windows to get you all in!
Travel from SLC Airport to Provo
You have a few options here, which are:
Train: There is a train (the Frontrunner) that goes directly from the SLC airport to Provo. From there, a very short uber ride or bus ride will take you to either the Marriott or your place of stay. This train ride takes about 2 hours and is the cheapest option.
Uber/Lyft: I’d recommend avoiding a taxi as it’ll likely be more expensive, but an Uber ride down to Provo is probably the fastest way to get here. We all know how this works, so pretty simple.
Shuttle: There is a shuttle service from the airport to wherever you need to go, but I believe it’s the most expensive option and you’ll have to wait for others to be dropped off along the way.
Rent-a-car: You can of course rent a car. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you plan to travel around the area a bit, and/or if you plan to stick around Utah and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend and then some. Save the money, keep it simple. Everything at the festival is literally a short walk away from each location – like, a less than 5 minute walk.
Provo Airport: Provo has a new regional airport, and has nonstop flights via Allegiant and Breeze Airlines. These flights come from LAX, Florida, Arizona, San Fransisco, Austin, Houston, and more. Check the dates and availability for more information.
Bring Extra Cash & Swag Bags
We want you to have the most fun and memorable experience possible. While this is going to be a more “subdued” event due to the obvious of what has transpired this past year, we are still working hard to create for you something Fantastic! Consider these other items as you prepare for the festival:
Petty Cash: We pride ourselves with the sweetest merch in the festival game. So be sure to bring some money to buy yourself some merch like t-shirt, satin jackets, hats, pennants, pins, buttons, keychains, etc.
Concessions: There will be concessions provide at the festival for a small fee. Popcorn, sweets, drinks, etc. will be available to you for the screenings.
Swag Bags: Every VIP guest will be given a sweet swag bag, filled with goodies and offers. It’s about $50 in value, so enjoy the prizes inside as our extra special gift to you!
Restaurant Discounts
We’ve been working with the local businesses in Provo to provide for you food discounts when you show your access pass. That said, we don’t have as many partners as in recent seasons because due to Covid, a lot of our partner restaurants have closed. Which sucks – but we still have places you can get a discount.
A full list of locations available for discounts will be made available to you upon check-in.
Q&A’s – In-Person & Virtual
IN-PERSON: Every single screening, unless filmmakers are not in attendance, will have a 15 minute Q&A after the screening block.
We’ll be recording these Q&A’s for preservation and broadcasting them live via Facebook whenever possible.
VIRTUAL Q&A’s: Due to there being so many time zones and nations to consider for the Q&A’s, making it impossible to do them live, we will be getting pre-recorded Q&A’s from the filmmakers (due Friday, October 14th) and put them with their respective blocks online for the virtual fest. We’ll keep these Q&A’s though for a future FilmQuest YouTube channel we’re launching later this year so they can be seen forever!
Press at the Fall 2022 Fest
Most of the press “attending” the festival will be doing so virtually. While we’re finalizing this press list available at the festival and virtually, they’ll be doing interviews, reviewing films, and taking red carpet photos when able.
Virtual press will be watching your films from afar, writing reviews, and also reaching out to you at their discretion for interviews and/or additional information.
Awards, Closing Night Awards Show & Red Carpets
One of the most fun experiences at any fest are the awards. Let’s be honest – everyone wants one! We provide an audio-visual event, that highlights the winners while giving due praise to all the filmmakers.
Trophies vs. Plaques: Not every award gets a Cthulhu. That would be crazy expensive for us. This year also so a HUGE increase in material costs for our full metal trophies due to several external factors, the incoming recession, the war in Ukraine, etc. What we will do is highlight the 12 or so “high profile” categories and award them the coveted Cthulhu Trophy (think Best Feature, Best Director, etc.), and the rest get a high quality, brushed silver plaque.
That said, if you are fortunate enough to win an award and didn’t get a Trophy – you can still get a Cthulhu! You just have to pay for the duplicate when we put in our orders for the next festival, which we do once a year. So you can always get one even if you “only” got the plaque. But be wary – it’s not cheap (but totally worth it)!
Dress Code: There is no dress code – however, we do recommend you come looking like a rock star and being what you feel is your best self. There will be pictures, a small touch of glam, and excitement. So look the part if you desire, but t-shirts and jeans are A-Okay as well.
Red Carpets: There is a 30 foot red carpet on location. This is accessible to you at any time, but there are also designated times we’ll be “glamming” it up as well. We’ll have our photographers there, and it’s really a time to have fun, get those red-carpet essential photos, and be with your friends.
Winners Photos: If you happen to be a winner of either a FilmQuest Cthulhu or a plaque, you’ll get just a touch extra attention after the Awards Show to get pictures your with wins and your team.
Filmmaker Lounge
This is a TBD location due to some of the previous mentioned closures and changes with some of our partners in Downtown Provo. Here you’ll sign the commemorative festival poster, hang out, relax, write, talk to other filmmakers, etc. It might also be used as a screening overflow room for this year’s event in case we’re too packed inside Velour. In the past, we’ve had some snacks and treats in the Filmmaker Lounge at the fest, but this year we won’t due to the obvious that comes from Covid-19 in order to ensure the safest space for the festival.
The filmmaker’s lounge is a great place to quietly mingle with your new friends, for press to do write-ups, eat some food away from a crowd, or play some vintage arcade games!