1999
Founded in 1999 by filmmakers Nathan Fackrell, Jason deVilliers, and Matt Fackrell the Eclipse Film Festival has been gaining popularity each day and will eclipse the city of St. George every November. These filmmakers felt that St. George was a perfect area for a film festival to be held; they knew a film festival would grow to become a major attraction. Centralized in the midst of national parks, gorgeous scenery, and wonderful weather, the city and community hold a great love for the arts.

These creators knew that the first year of the festival would prove to be a rough draft for things to come. With the acquisition of sponsors, promotion and advertising for the festival began. The City of St. George began to support the festival; it was a great honor to receive the support of the Community Arts Division of St. George and its former administrator, David W.
Pursley.

Finally in November 1999, St. George's first film festival, originally named "The Southern Utah Amateur Film Festival", debuted before a sellout crowd in the Pioneer Opera House. The film festival was a great success. Awards were given out for films in various categories. After the festival, the city and many others were excited for the festival to become an annual event.

"Gravediggers:" BEST PICTURE 1999 and AUDIENCE CHOICE 1999 A young man learns the term "the wrong place at the wrong time" when he discovers a group of men burying what seems to be a dog out in the middle of the woods. Only he finds out that its not a dog they are burying. "Gravdiggers" is a dark comedy full of action and suspense. (8 min)

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2000
At the beginning of the year 2000, friends and fellow filmmakers David F. Chase, Casey Niederhauser, and Demetrius Graham, joined the team to help bring the festival forward into the mainstream and turn it into something outstanding. Together the six filmmakers began a production company that would oversee further production of the film festival. They needed a new name for the festival, one that would be recognized for years to come. Many names were considered. The idea of an eclipse being rare yet recognized, gave them a name that seemed to fit more than any other. The company became "Eclipse Entertainment," and the festival was named the "Eclipse Film Festival."

In the midst of the months of festival preparation, the group was working hard as members of the Dixie State College Motion Picture Program to finish their hour-long Telly Award-winning documentary, "The Mountain Meadows Massacre," in time for its premiere at the festival. As a team, Eclipse Entertainment and the sponsors for the festival worked together, giving up much of their free time to see the festival succeed and grow.

With sellout crowds and film entries from across the nation, the festival grew considerably in its second year. The films of the 2000 festival were judged by award-winning film directors, Gregory C. Haynes and Rocco DeVilliers. Film professors from the University of Utah, Tom Sobchek, and Dixie State College, Tim Bywater, also assisted along with film critic Adam Mast in judging the festival. Awards and trophies were given for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Editor, Best Cinematography, and Audience Choice for Best Picture.

Click Here to visit the Eclipse Film Festival 2000 Website

"Warplay:" BEST PICTURE 2000 and BEST DIRECTOR 2000 Director: Brian Lefler The story of a young boy's inability to separate his imagination from reality. All Adrian wants is to be a fearless hero. Trouble begins when his friend breaks the rules of engagement and Adrian's anger transforms him into a ruthless warrior. Only his mother's voice brings Adrian out of his "warplay" to awareness. (14 min)

"God Speaks Spanish:" BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 2000 Director: Andres Orozco Director of Photography: Michael Black The personal narrative of Benjamin Suárez, a young Latino professional living in Chicago climbing the corporate ladder. Benjamin's strained relationship with his grandfather causes him nostalgia and confusion about issues in life. The film explores the poverty that affects both rich and poor: the poverty of loneliness. Chicago Latino Film Festival 2000. New York International Latino Film Festival 2000. (12 min)

"Not Waving Buy Drowning:" BEST EDITING 2000 Director/Editor: Megan Griffiths A young woman named Maya is unhappy with the life she has ended up with. She finds herself struggling with the lines between fantasy and reality. (13 min)

"The Vanishing Point:" AUDIENCE CHOICE 2000 Director: Jonathan Howard A thrilling tale of a woman who is stalked through a snow-covered train station by a mysterious photographer. She evades him, but he leaves a role of film behind for her. She takes the role of film to be developed and finds that the photographer is more than what he appeared to be. (12 min)

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2001
The 2001 festival showcased films from all over the world. With entries from Israel, Ireland, and Canada, the 2001 Eclipse Film Festival entertained audiences of all ages while helping promote the talents of various independent filmmakers.

The 2001 Eclipse Film Festival also hosted several Feature Q&A sessions, showcasing the talents of local film maker Eric Hendershot and his film "Horse Crazy." Award winning Producer/Director Rocco deVilliers also showed his movie "Only Once", followed by Gregory C. Haynes, award winning Producer/Director of "Heaven or Vegas" who presented his movie "Cowboy's & Angels." A Q&A period with the producers of these films followed each feature sessions.

The Eclipse Film Festival Coordinators presented their Telly Award winning documentary, "The Mountain Meadows Massacre." Through various interviews with key historians, reenactments, and photographs, this hour-long documentary tells the story of the massacre from all sides.

Click Here to visit the Eclipse Film Festival 2001 Website

"Moosh:" BEST PICTURE 2001 and BEST DIRECTOR 2001 (Israel) Short Drama Filmmaker: Erez Tadmor 16mm / 28 min A 32-year-old policeman named Moosh has a crumbling marriage with his wife. One night he finds an abandoned baby in an alleyway and must take the child home until Social Services opens. Taking care of the infant brings about a touching reconciliation between husband and wife.

"The $5 Movie:" BEST SCREENPLAY 2001 (USA) Short Comedy Filmmaker: Devin Scott 35mm / 16 min Perseverance and passion shadow a young director's humorous odyssey as he tries to answer the eternal question, "Is it art", by directing the same scene five times over twenty years. The actors and the sets change... but does he in his search for the perfect moment.

"Do Tempo Que Eu Comia Pipoca:" BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 2001 (The Time I've Eaten Popcorn) (Brazil) Short Drama Filmmakers: Catherine Agniez and Heloisa Passos 35mm / 18 min The Time I’ve Eaten Popcorn wants to talk about pleasures and absences that memories evoke in everybody. Clara comes back to the town where she was born, seeking places, smells and feelings. Leo has no memories regarding the place where he lives. It is a poetic essay where the characters' complicity reveals itself to one another through fragility and emotions.

"Shattered:" BEST EDITING 2001 (USA) Short / Experimental Filmmaker: Krisi Church 16mm / 4 min A cinematic poem about a young woman imprisoned by inhibitions. A pane of glass separates her from the inner-peace she seeks. Surrounded in a collage of pictures from her past she begins to piece together who she is and where she came from. After her struggling search she awakens to a realization of her unnecessary self-inflicted bondage. She breaks free from her glass prison. Now reconciled, she can finally look herself in the eye.

"The Nook:" AUDIENCE CHOICE 2001 (Ireland) documentary short Filmmaker: Denis McArdle 16mm / 30 min A sensitive portrayal of Martin Lysaght who forgoes a life at sea to run a corner shop for 35 years in Dublin's coastal village of Booterstown. This documentary pays homage to a man who weaves his philosophic, eccentric and loving nature into the hearts of a local community. The Nook is in essence a wonderful study of the free spirit and its place on the earth.

Anne Cullimore - "The Cufflink:" BEST ACTING 2001 (USA) Short Drama Filmmaker: Stephen Williams 16mm / 9 min JoAnn, a woman in her mid-sixties, is at home getting ready to attend the birthday of her grandson. She sits at her dressing table, putting on her make-up. She finds a cufflink belonging to her ex-husband. This brings a flood of past voices and memories to her mind. The ex-husband and his new wife are to be present at the birthday party, and she dreads seeing them. The voices grow louder and louder and more strident, causing her to breakdown. To spare herself the pain, she calls her daughter to inform her that she will not be attending the party. The daughter successfully uses emotional blackmail to coerce JoAnn into going.

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2002
The Eclipse Film Festival would like to thank the community, sponsors, and filmmakers for supporting the 2002 festival. With their help, the Eclipse Film Festival grew and expand tremendously. It is quickly becoming a great staple for the arts in Southern Utah and in the City of St. George. Eclipse hopes to see the dreams of filmmakers become a reality; the Eclipse Film festival is a perfect chance for such an opportunity.

Watch for the Eclipse...IT'S COMING! - November 14th & 15th, 2002

Click Here to visit the Eclipse Film Festival 2002 Website

"Soledad:" BEST PICTURE 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director/Writer: Shlomo Buchler Producers: Steven P. Wilt & Sann-Kristin Jensen Director of Photography: Jim Orr 35mm / 22 min Soledad is set in the post-abolitionist United States, against a backdrop of oppression and brutality, and chronicles the life of a former slave coming to terms with his tenuous freedom. The film also portrays the struggle of an exploited flamenco dancer from Spain. The film's two main characters form a union that strengthens and empowers them.

Christian Vuissa "Roots & Wings:" BEST DIRECTOR 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director/Writer: Christian Vuissa Beta SP / 27 min "Roots & Wings" tells the story of a Mexican family in the United States struggling to regain its balance. Ruben Diaz, a faithful husband and father, must deal with his wife’s conversion to another religion. While his wife Antonia feels she is obeying God by being baptized, Ruben feels betrayed by her disloyalty to their Catholic vows and cultural values. This conflict threatens to tear their family apart. (In Spanish, with English subtitles.)

Jim Orr "Soledad:" BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director/Writer: Shlomo Buchler Producers: Steven P. Wilt & Sann-Kristin Jensen Director of Photography: Jim Orr 35mm / 22 min Soledad is set in the post-abolitionist United States, against a backdrop of oppression and brutality, and chronicles the life of a former slave coming to terms with his tenuous freedom. The film also portrays the struggle of an exploited flamenco dancer from Spain. The film's two main characters form a union that strengthens and empowers them.

"Simplicity:" BEST EDITING 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director: Chet Thomas Producers: Darrin Fletcher, Brain Hennessy, Chet Thomas, Rob Verdery 35mm / 17 min 16 sec Danny Trejo as a small Colombian town barber must differentiate between revenge and honor when forced to face his town's oppressor, a ruthless general, who comes into his shop for a cut and a straight razor shave.

"Roots & Wings:" BEST SCREENPLAY 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director/Writer: Christian Vuissa Beta SP / 27 min "Roots & Wings" tells the story of a Mexican family in the United States struggling to regain its balance. Ruben Diaz, a faithful husband and father, must deal with his wife’s conversion to another religion. While his wife Antonia feels she is obeying God by being baptized, Ruben feels betrayed by her disloyalty to their Catholic vows and cultural values. This conflict threatens to tear their family apart. (In Spanish, with English subtitles.)

Reggie Willis "Soledad:" BEST ACTOR 2002 (USA) Short Drama Director/Writer: Shlomo Buchler Producers: Steven P. Wilt & Sann-Kristin Jensen Director of Photography: Jim Orr 35mm / 22 min Soledad is set in the post-abolitionist United States, against a backdrop of oppression and brutality, and chronicles the life of a former slave coming to terms with his tenuous freedom. The film also portrays the struggle of an exploited flamenco dancer from Spain. The film's two main characters form a union that strengthens and empowers them.

"Bug Beat:" BEST ANIMATION 2002 (USA) Short Animation Filmmaker: Tim Hynes Beta SP / 2 min 14 sec Animator and director Tim Hynes brings a clever household insect to life in this "offbeat" (no pun intended) animated short. Within the walls of his domestic dwelling and utilizing his ingenuity and resourcefulness, the bug builds a makeshift drum set from household trash he’s collected. Oh, if only humans could capture such sound effects from an old spice jar and Dixie cup! The bug’s confidence as a drummer begins slowly, but then quickly escalates into a jam session of no return.

"5-Minutes:" AUDIENCE CHOICE 2002 (USA) Short Drama Filmmaker: Robert Noll Director of Photography: Jim Orr 35mm / 16 min 35 sec Which 5 minutes do you remember most? This is thought provoking story featuring a reporter who interviews a man on death row but turns out to have motives beyond just getting the story.

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