A decade ago, Ogden was still warming to the idea of being a Sundance Film Festival satellite site.
This year, locals marked their 13th anniversary of supporting Sundance. And the number of screenings has also increased. Back in 2000, Ogden got five feature films. This year, Sundance gave us 14.
We also welcome back the Foursite Film Festival in June for its seventh year, and last fall we celebrated the 10th annual Gangrene Film Festival in Layton. This year, the festivities fall on Sept. 3 at the Kenley Centennial Amphitheater.
A decade has made a major difference on the local film festival scene.
"I think we started out with about 20 people, at our first official festival," said Craig Nybo, Gangrene programmer and co-founder. "Last year, we saw about 1,300 people."
Scott Halford, director of the Foursite Film Festival, said his festival's growth was "explosive" in the first few years, although it has leveled off the past two. The first year, about 250 attended, he said. Last year, the festival drew an estimated 1,500, he said.
"Overall, the public has been supportive of independent films in recent years," he said. "People see the value of something made by somebody local."
Other local festivals that have come and gone, and may be back, include the Peach Days/Salt Aire Film Festival and the High Mountain Adventure Film Festival. Touring festivals, including the Warren Miller event and Banff, have been well-attended. This year, Banff sponsors added a second night of screenings at Peery's Egyptian Theater.
Weber State University professor Greg Lewis hit the decade mark with his free Asian film screenings last year, and another professor added free Spanish films screenings last term.
And at least one area school has launched its own annual festival. Layton High School screened more than 50 student-made shorts during last month's True Blue Film Festival.
"I think the sudden influx of festivals happened largely because of accessibility to digital camera equipment," Nybo said. "Back when I started making films myself, I had to want it really bad to put something decent together. Now, any computer you buy has a basic editor on it, and you can get an HD camera for $500.
"Everybody is a filmmaker these days. I'm all for it. If artists can't encourage other artists, they should go away."
With more people making videos, interest is higher, Nybo said. Even those who don't make films check out videos on the YouTube Web site.
The only downside for the festival folks: People may not want to pay to see comedy shorts like those at Gangrene, Nybo said. But his fans appreciate the quality of Gangrene's selections, and the outrageous live entertainment that opens the festival, he said.
Halford, whose festival offers nonoffensive indie shorts and features, faces the same issue.
"Hopefully, they will recognize quality, and realize it is worth the small investment," he said.
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