An award-winning film festival looks to bring creators and fans together to showcase the best in independent cinema in downtown Provo.

FilmQuest returns for its 11th year beginning Thursday, running for a little over a week.

Though it’s Utah’s second largest film festival, FilmQuest has been recognized as one of the largest genre festivals in the world. MovieMaker Magazine named it one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” in 2024, and it’s also a 7-time winner for Utah’s best film festival by Best of State.

FilmQuest centers its focus on genre cinema, a term that often is used to describe thriller, crime, action, Western, science-fiction and martial arts films.

Courtesy FilmQuest

After what festival organizers called a record-shattering number of submissions — 1,816 films and screenplays were submitted for consideration — over 300 films were selected to be showcased at this year’s event, including projects from or featuring names like Joel McHale, Doug Jones, Tony Todd, Tobin Bell, Patricia Heaton, Cristo Fernández, Donal Logue, Peter Stormare, Katie Parker and Danny Trejo, according to a press release.

Feature films and short films from 30 nations aim to shine a light on “the industry’s hottest and best up-and-coming genre filmmaking talent,” the release stated.

FilmQuest began as the Salt Lake County Festival in 2014 but moved to Provo after its first three years.

Festival founder and Director Jonathan Martin says the event continues to grow year after year.

“A lot of people come from out of state to see the festival, and it’s obviously gotten the industry’s attention,” Martin said.

Courtesy FilmQuest

He credits Provo’s centralized, walkable downtown area and easy access to the venue, hotels and dining as some of the factors in enhancing the festival’s experience for out-of-town visitors and locals.

Over the past decade, Martin said, FilmQuest has become a premiere event in one of the most unlikely of places but provides a perfect backdrop for those who love cinema or have filmmaking aspirations.

“You simply aren’t going to make better connections in Utah than you will at the festival to advance your opportunities and realize your dreams,” Martin said in the release. “For those who haven’t experienced the festival, there is never a better time to come and see for yourself what all the fuss is about and to find out why the genre film industry has stood up and taken notice.”

He noted that the festival’s commitment to finding and showcasing emerging talent is evident in the success stories of filmmakers like Parker Finn, writer and director of the horror film “Smile” and its recently released sequel, which was No. 1 in the country at the box office last weekend.

“Parker Finn was here kicking it with us in Provo five years ago. Now, he’s the next big name with the franchise for Paramount (Pictures), and we were one of the very first film festivals he ever played that recognized his talent,” Martin explained.

Martin said FilmQuest has led to a stronger local filmmaking community, with filmmakers collaborating and supporting each other.

“We’re here to create something that’s long lasting, that will be (here) 30 to 40 years from now. Even if I’m not involved with it, it will be a major part of Provo, a major part of Utah and its culture,” Martin said.

But he also hopes to change the generated perceptions of Utah brought on by reality television and various outlets that he feels can be a bit salacious at times.

“That’s not what this culture is, that’s not that’s not what we are,” Martin stated.

One way of changing the misperception, he believes, is by FilmQuest serving as a vehicle for filmmakers and creators to have an encounter that shares the beauty and uniqueness of Utah and Utah Valley.

“Because that doesn’t just benefit us and Provo but that benefits other events and other creators and people that want to come in, and now we’re a hotbed for creativity,” Martin explained.

The educational aspect of the festival, including workshops and labs, also plays a role in the mission of growing local filmmaking and production teams.

FilmQuest 2024 takes place at Velour Live Music Gallery, located at 135 N. University Ave. The event begins Thursday and concludes with an audiovisual awards show Nov. 2, where winners of the winners in feature film, short film, student film, animation and music video categories will be awarded with Cthulhu Trophy, the release noted.

A full list of films, information and a schedule, as well as tickets for the festival, can be found at filmquestfest.com.