Meet the 2026 Orem Film Festival Jury
The Orem Film Festival returns for its second year on September 23, 2026, at the Geneva Megaplex in Orem, Utah. This year we're showcasing ten bold short films on the big screen, with $3,000 in cash prizes awarded across three categories: the Audience Choice Award, the Jury Prize for Best Short, and the Utah Emerging Filmmaker Award, each awarding $1,000. Winners are announced during our closing ceremony.
While the Audience Choice Award is decided by the votes of everyone in the theater on festival night, the Jury Prize for Best Short and the Utah Emerging Filmmaker Award are determined by our jury: a panel of industry professionals and cinephiles who evaluate every selected film on originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional impact, and artistic vision.
Thank you to our 2026 jury, made up of industry professionals and passionate film fans who have donated their time to make the Orem Film Festival happen. They will be among those judging the submitted films and voting on the winners of two of our $1,000 cash prizes. Learn more about them below!
Mekhai Lee
OFF Audience Award Winner - 2025
Director/Writer of Them That’s Not
Mekhai Lee is a proud graduate of the Drama program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the writer/director and co-creator of the web series For the Boys. He is a member of Ryan Murphy's Half-Initiative Director Program and was the 2022 Director's Fellow on HBO's "Succession." His short film "Them That's Not" premiered at NewfestPride '25 and has since screened at SXSW, Palm Springs International Shorts, and Chicago International Film Festival, where it received the Golden Hugo Award, making the film officially Academy Award eligible. He is repped by Gersh Agency and Insight Management.
Carli Mahas
Production Coordinator @ Utah Film Commission
Carli is an experienced film industry professional with over a decade of expertise, specializing in production support, state-level film incentives, and resource management. In her current role as Production Coordinator at the Utah Film Commission, she serves as a primary liaison for incoming productions while managing workforce development initiatives designed to train and foster new talent in the industry.
Scott Renshaw
Arts & Entertainment Editor @ Salt Lake City Weekly
Utah Film Critics Association Member
Scott Renshaw is the Arts & Entertainment Editor for Salt Lake City Weekly, where he has also been the primary film critic since 2001, as well as co-host of the Mousterpiece Melodies podcast. Before City Weekly, he served as film critic for City Weekly's Park City-based sister publication Mountain Times. As a freelance contributor, his writing has appeared in other regional newsweeklies, as well as at IndieWire and MiceChat. He was a founding member of the Online Film Critics Society, and a current member and past president of the Utah Film Critics Association.
Jahanara Saleh
Filmmaking Professor & Program Coordinator @ Southern Utah University
Jahanara Saleh is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has screened internationally and been featured on television networks and streaming platforms. Born and raised in Iran, her films often explore themes of identity, culture, and belonging. She is also a Filmmaking Professor and Program Coordinator at Southern Utah University.
Derek Mellus
Production Manager @ Utah Film Commission
Derek Mellus has served as the Production Manager for the Utah Film Commission since 2007, drawing on his prior experience in the Art and Locations departments for television series, commercials, and feature films. In his current capacity, Derek assists productions of all sizes, from student shorts to feature films, find the resources they need in Utah. His deep understanding of Utah's film industry and diverse landscapes, coupled with his enthusiasm for storytelling, makes him a valuable asset to filmmakers. He also served as the Artistic Coordinator running the Utah Arts Festival's Fear No Film Festival for 7 years.
Quian Redfern
Film Critic @ The Reel Fella
Quian Redfern is a Utah-based video editor, producer, and film critic with a passion for storytelling across sports, cinema, and culture. Through his work as an editor and his film criticism as The Reel Fella, he explores how movies move people, shape conversation, and reveal truth through image, sound, and emotion.
Trevor Allen
Orem Film Festival Founder & Festival Director
Trevor Allen is the founder and festival director of the Orem Film Festival, which held its first edition in September 2025. A filmmaker himself, he started the festival to give independent and local filmmakers a place to screen their work on the big screen. He lives in Utah County, where he continues to make films and grow the festival year over year.
Submissions for the 2026 Orem Film Festival are open now. Whether you're a Utah local or submitting from out of state, we'd love to see your work.
Braids - Previous Emerging Filmmaker Winner
Audience Choice Award — $1,000
The heart of our festival lies in the audience experience. After the final screening, attendees will cast their votes for the film that resonated most deeply, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize. This award celebrates the universal language of storytelling that connects filmmakers directly with viewers.
Jury Prize for Best Short — $1,000
Our panel of industry professionals and cinephiles will evaluate each film based on originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional impact, and artistic vision. The film achieving the highest overall score will be awarded $1,000. Open to all submissions, including non-Utah-based films.
Utah Emerging Filmmaker Award — $1,000
Celebrating the bright future of Utah cinema, this $1,000 prize recognizes an outstanding early-career artist demonstrating exceptional promise. We seek bold perspectives and fresh voices that represent the next generation of Utah storytelling. Limited to Utah-based filmmakers.
Winners will be announced during our closing ceremony, providing filmmakers with valuable recognition, financial support, and industry exposure.
Previous Winners
Rat Rod – Jury Prize
The highest honor of the festival went to Rat Rod, directed by Carly and Jared Jakins. Their film is an intimate and haunting documentary following mechanic Jorge Ramirez, who joined us for the live Q&A with director Jared Jakins. The film was selected for its originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional depth, and artistic vision.
Them That’s Not – Audience Award
Mekhai Lee’s moving short film Them That’s Not closed the night and won the Audience Award. The story follows a Deaf girl grappling with the loss of a family member and rising family tensions. Gorgeously made and emotionally raw, this film resonated deeply with festivalgoers, earning the most votes of the night.
Braids – Emerging Filmmaker Award
Directed by Elise Beers, Braids tells the powerful story of a young Native American boy navigating school picture day and the cultural prejudices he faces. Both audiences and jurors were deeply moved by this beautifully crafted film. During our Q&A, we had the honor of speaking with director Elise Beers, producer Bryson Alejandro, and lead actor Julius Sweet Tsosie.
