F&MAD Film Pitch Competition
Before cameras roll, ideas take the stage.
Join us Friday, October 3 (4–9pm, FMAB 105) for a high-stakes pitch session where Capstone filmmakers present their projects in under 10 minutes, just like a real industry greenlight meeting.
A Jury Award with a cash prize will be presented, plus audience giveaways throughout the night thanks to Red Finch Rental.
Judges: Greg Kiefer, A Madden & Cayden Turnbow
This even it Free + open to the public.
JUDGES and BIOS
A MADDEN (they/them) | @awithamoviecamera | @utahfilmcenter
A is a queer filmmaker, facilitator, and space holder whose work experiments with queer evolutions of identity, connection, and liberation. They have worked as a director and editor of documentary, narrative, and commercial projects for 15 years. Their work has been exhibited internationally including screenings at SXSW, DOCNYC, and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Projects include directing the short documentaries, A Spell For Queer Home and Dear Elsa: 10 Letters + 10 Experiments, the TV pilot, Mercy Mistress, the short narrative films, Separation Celebration and Names of Women, being a primary editor on the feature hybrid documentary, Roleplay, and editing for clients including Sundance, MTV, BET, Pride Media, Refinery 29, Condé Nast, and NBC Universal. As an educator, they have taught filmmaking at Reel Works, Hunter College, and Spy Hop Productions and created Reflection Collective, an independent educational project that focuses on creative practice as an opportunity for exploration, introspection, and connection. They hold a BA in Film from Montana State University and an MFA in Documentary Filmmaking from Hunter College. They manage the filmmaker support program, Artist Foundry, at the Utah Film Center.
GREG KIEFER (He/him) | @gregkieferphotography | @cosmic_pictures
Greg Kiefer is a commercial director and photographer whose passion for telling human stories has taken him around the world. He is the founder of Cosmic Pictures, a full-service production company specializing in everything from visual effects to feature films.
Through Cosmic, Greg has directed and produced hundreds of commercials, multiple feature films, and more than 100 episodes of television. His work includes Emmy-nominated Making Good, the award-winning documentary series Turning Point, and PBS’s art and travel show Painting the Town.
CAYDEN TURBOW (He/him) | @caydenturnbow
Cayden Turnbow is a Salt Lake City based producer committed to elevating unique voices in independent filmmaking. He is the founder of the Post Credits Film Showcase and has produced a wide range of short films, focusing on giving filmmakers the tools and support to bring their stories to life. Cayden’s experience working with Slamdance Film Festival, Salt Lake Film Society and Salt Lake City Arts Council have deepened his understanding of both the indie film circuit and the local arts community, offering insight into both its opportunities and challenges. His projects have screened at festivals such as FilmQuest and Camp Film Fest. He's been featured on Seed and Spark for his film Anastasis, and his films have pitched twice at the Utah Film Center’s Annual Pitch Competition. His recent sci-fi family drama Anastasis further strengthened his ties to the local film scene, laying the foundation for his most ambitious project yet: Zulian Pretzel. Passionate about fostering emerging talent, Cayden is dedicated to championing stories that challenge, inspire, and resonate.
Pitch marketing images by ALSO SISTERS, inspired by Jean-Jacques Lequeu’s Etude d’une tête humaine, vue de face (1792).