Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival
The DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival is an annual film festival, held in the Fall, that strives to recognize some of the best in international documentary films. Hosted by Dixie State University (DSU), the festival screens films at the Red Cliffs Theater behind the Red Cliffs Mall in St. George, Utah, with special events throughout Southern Utah. DOCUTAH, also, has an educational focus, and features “master class educational seminars.” History. Dixie State University founded DOCUTAH in 2010. From the beginning, this festival has aimed to provide attendees with not only a meaningful film-going  experience, but also an educational one through its “master class educational seminars.” The originator of the festival idea, Phil Tuckett, serves as the director of DSU Films. When he returned to his junior college (DSU) in 2006, after 38 years of working for NFL Films and receiving 30 Emmy Awards, he felt that the southern Utah area would serve as the perfect place to hold an international documentary film festival. After working for several months to make his vision come to fruition, Tuckett officially announced DOCUTAH on 24 September 2009. The City of St. George, the St. George Convention and  Tourism office, the City of Kanab, and Kane County’s Office of Tourism and Film Commission (along with the Center for Education, Business, and the Arts) were some of the first to support and sponsor DOCUTAH. Structure. The festival runs for 7 days annually, in the fall. Screenings. The festival screens films at the Red Cliffs Theater behind Red Cliffs Mall and the Eccles Performing Arts Center at Dixie State University, with various locations for special events. Special events location involves the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in Springdale, UT. DOCtalks. Film industry professionals are scheduled to talk about their experiences and  the process of making films. Film Categories. DOCUTAH has two separate film entry categories, one for general entrants and one for students. These both have sub-categories. General: Student: Awards. Six judges make up the DOCUTAH awards panel. They confer the honors for the following categories: See also. Dixie State University