Below, you’ll find the prep list and need-to-know essentials to get you ready for the 2026FilmQuest. 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.
Our 13th Edition of FilmQuest!
The 2026 FilmQuest marks our 13th season of celebrating the majesty and might of genre cinema! If you’ve been to FilmQuest before, or if it’s been a while or even your first time, then you 100% need to come and participate not only to see our incredible growth, but to see the legacy of the amazing festival you’ve helped us build.
Fest Schedule, Film Info, Program Guide & Nominations
Film Info on Website: Coming mid-September
Fest Schedule: Coming by mid-September
Award Nominees: Coming late September
Program Guide: Early October
Fill Out Your Onboarding Survey via SurveyMonkey
First things first, whether you’re a filmmaker and/or screenwriter with a project in the festival, fill out the festival survey via SurveyMonkey. Here’s a direct link below, and you should check your emails for it as well. This will tell you how to get us your film files, your film info (that will go on the website), and more.
FilmQuest Survey Link: CLICK THIS
Download CIRQIL, FilmQuest’s Official Festival App
CIRQIL (www.cirqil.com) is creating one persistent platform for festivals, filmmakers, and attendees. Instead of downloading a different app for every festival you attend, CIRQIL stays with you throughout the festival circuit, giving you one place to discover festivals, access festival programs and schedules, navigate events, and (very soon) you’ll be able to connect with other people in the community. As filmmakers, this means that as you move from festival to festival, CIRQIL can move with you. Hundred of festivals will be added in the next year, with 10 more major features added over the next 10-12 months. One of the biggest is CIRQIL’s networking feature, launching in October. It will allows filmmakers to easily connect and network with other filmmakers, industry professionals, and people they meet throughout the festival community, as well as their films with others.
FilmQuest is thrilled to be one the launch festivals for CIRQIL and to have our filmmakers and guests be among the first to experience it!
Follow & Tag FilmQuest on Social Media
Join us from near and far via all our Social channels. This includes our “secret” Alumni Facebook page. Here’s all the links and info you need below, and we look forward to engaging with you on all the Socials.
“Secret” Alumni Facebook Group: CLICK HERE for Alumni Page
Follow & Like on Instagram: CLICK HERE for Instagram
Follow & Like on Facebook: CLICK HERE for Facebook
Follow on X: CLICK HERE for X
Follow on Threads: CLICK HERE for ThreadsUse hashtags #filmquest #filmquest2026 #wearefilmquest #prepareforfantastic #thebestofthebest and tag us @filmquest to promote and tag us!
Promote! Promote! Promote! Spread the word about your selection, brag to your friends, kissed your loved ones. Let everyone know the good news!
Virtual Festival via the EO FLIX App (Entertainment Oxygen)
We’ve again partnered with the virtual festival hosting platform EO FLIX, which is now transitioning into CineLot to deliver and host our virtual festival. While EO Flix will still host the virtual part of the festival, it is beginning the transition to CineLot which is where you’ll upload your film’s info, etc.
Filmmakers will need to upload through CineLot now, not through EO FLIX. Attached in the files included in this email below is a template with an upload guide that also introduces CineLot to you. Below you have been provided the upload code to attach your project to FilmQuest.
Don’t worry, this is all completely at your discretion, free to you, and allows you to control every facet of your film on their platform. We definitely wouldn’t be partnering with them if it didn’t.
This is where audiences from around the world will be able to be see your films (with your permission naturally) through an online pass or ticket to your block, and you can also connect with each other on the platform to set up production meetings, rsvp to events, etc. as it will also work as a scheduling, ticketing, and RSVP app for the festival as well.
In the past, it’s actually been the virtual exclusives that have had the most viewership through the platform as well, so there’s a lot of opportunity through the program. Don’t forget to find and add me (Jonathan Martin) on EO to connect and start your network, and say hello in a message while you’re at it!
Hotel – Discounted Rate Expires October 8th , 2026
Downtown Provo Marriott Hotel booking link ($139 per room per night): Hotel Discount Link (click me)
Book ASAP as rooms are limited at the special rate, and the cutoff date for prime nights are September 23rd with final bookings needed by Thursday, October 8th, 2025!
*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 Hyatt Place Provo. While a great venue, we fight to get the best rates for our guests and highly recommend booking early while rooms are available through the Downtown Provo Marriott – only a block and three minute walk from the venue. Again, book by Thursday, October 8th, 2026 for the best rate.
Camp Cthulhu! Filmmaker Workshops & Labs
At FilmQuest, we’ve branded all our labs and workshops as “Camp Cthulhu,” celebrating the fun and film camp vibes of the festival. This means that a new separate pass will be available for those who only want to attend these series of filmmaking mastery classes from established film professionals from around the world. These include labs on directing, producing, marketing, distribution, sound design, screenwriting, acting, and more.
We wanted to create a top-notch series of workshops that covers the entire filmmaking process, from script to post-production to distribution, and to create the best experience possible we are currently finalizing our guest and workshop/labs list. We’ll be updating this list on the website with more lab and guest details so check your emails and the website frequently for the latest news for Camp Cthulhu.
In-Person Check-In, Festival & Special Event Passes
1.) When you arrive, come to the front check-in desk at Taste (next door to Velour), and/or Jonna (our Assistant Director) or a helpful member of our staff will check you and your team in.
2.) Feature films are allotted two festival passes each (normally reserved for the film’s directors unless previously notified). 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 either the associated filmmaker VIP full or half pass (depending on how many days they attend).
4.) 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 the allotted windows to get you all in!
5.) To prepare our attendees for any additional costs you may encounter at the festival so there are no surprises when you arrive below are some items you can expect to come across at the festival. While your festival badge covers screenings, labs, panels, and many gatherings, some events do carry extra fees to help us cover costs for venues, staff, food, drink, etc.
6.) NOTE FOR 2026: We’re working with potential sponsors to try and cover at least the closing night catering and drink at the festival. This page will be updated with relevant information as we try to make this happen.
Social & Networking Events
- Friday Opening Mixer Dinner – Attend for free, pay directly to restaurant for food and/or drink
- Two Filmmaker Luncheons – Paid directly to the venues
- Axe Throwing Night – Paid directly to the venue to participate or spectate for free
- Midnight Madness – $20 entry fee for non-screening attendees.
- Free Gatherings – Such as our popular Monday Night Game Night and other mixers open to all filmmakers and guests
Special Event Parties
We also host three Special Event Parties, which are open to all but do require a VIP festival pass plus a nominal fee to enter.
- $10 – Entry + Soft Drinks (no food or alcohol)
- $30–$50 – Entry plus Dinner
- $40–$60 – Entry plus Dinner and unlimited alcohol
These fees ensure we can provide a high-quality experience for everyone by covering the costs of the venue, staff, food, and drink. Please note, under Utah liquor laws, we cannot sell an alcohol pass without food. Our venue and bartenders are fully licensed, and sometimes fees are reduced if we have a sponsor partner supporting the event.
All Special Event Parties are advance purchase only, all-inclusive, and no cash will be exchanged at the door. Full details are available at check-in.
Travel from SLC Airport to Downtown 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 and easy regional airport, and has nonstop flights via Allegiant, Breeze Airlines, and American Airlines. These flights come from Burbank, LAX, Orange County, Florida, Arizona, San Fransisco, Austin, Houston, Chicago, and more with more destinations and flights being added as the airport continues to expand. 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. 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. We also accept all major credit cards.
Merchandise: As mentioned above, we sell a bevy of what we believe to be the absolute best merch on the festival circuit. From shoe laces to t-shirt, hats to belt buckles, satin jackets to scarves, we’ve though about all of it. Each year we introduce unique t-shirt designs that sell out fast, while also adding new items to the merch. It doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty stylish as well! Be the envy of your film set and load up on FilmQuest merch!
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 Filmmakers & Screenplay VIP badge holder will be given a sweet swag bag, filled with goodies and offers. It’s at lesat $75 in value, so enjoy the prizes inside as our extra special gift to you! We also provide this bag of goodies to everyone who buys a FULL VIP Filmmaker pass (because of the high value of the bags and high demand, we can no longer provide the swag bag for those who only purchase a half VIP filmmaker pass).
Restaurant Discounts
We’ve been working with the local businesses in Provo for the last few years to provide for you food discounts when you show your all-access VIP pass. A full list of locations available for discounts will be made available to you upon check-in by our staff.
Q&A’s – Every Attending Film Gets One
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 on our incoming YouTube channel down the road. Also, while we love everyone, these Q&A’s will be restricted to the director(s) and or single representative of the film to manage time and give equal opportunity to everyone.
Press at the Fall 2026 Fest
Many of the press “attending” the festival will be doing so virtually. While we’re finalizing this press list of those who will be available at the festival in-person and virtually, they’ll be doing interviews, reviewing films, and taking red carpet photos when able. Variety, GeekTyrant, Rue Morgue, and Getty Images are confirmed with more to be announced in the run-up to the festival, including local press. Red carpet events will also be scheduled for interviews, photos, and more.
Virtual press will be watching your films from afar on CineLot / EO Flix writing reviews, and also reaching out to you at their discretion for interviews and/or additional information.
Distributors at the Fall 2026 Fest
Most of the distributors participating at the festival will be doing so virtually. While we’re finalizing the full distributors list who will be looking for films, which currently includes Saban Films, Scatena & Rosner and others, we are working to confirm that the premiere genre short film distributors ALTER and DUST will be in attendance, along with several other feature film distributors. The new FilmQuest Marché du Cthulhu will also open up many distribution opportunities moving forward.
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. Here you’ll also sign the commemorative festival poster, hang out, relax, write, talk to other filmmakers, etc. if not attending a screening or event if not hanging out at The Social
Closing Night Awards Show: Since hosting in 2018, we have had some legendary live awards shows at Velour. However, as the festival has grown so too has the demand for more and more attendees to be able to make it in person. As such, we are planning on moving the Awards Show to a new location to accommodate all visiting guests to enjoy the show and win some awards. More details will be revealed in the lead up to the festival.
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
Partnering with us for the 5th year will be The Social, located a block from Velour where you can lounge, play games, socialize, network, get food, adult beverages, and more. Here you’ll sign the commemorative festival poster, hang out, relax, write, talk to other filmmakers, etc.
The filmmaker’s lounge is a great place to quietly mingle with your new friends, for press to do write-ups, get a drink, eat some food away from a crowd, or play some games!