2025 Festival Highlights

FILMS

This year’s theme, “Bringing Stories to Life,” celebrated the power of friendship, teamwork, and community. All films were free to attend and represented various languages and backgrounds from around the world!

WORKSHOPS

Festival workshops were buzzing with creativity as young minds explored the world of cinema. From scriptwriting to cinematography, kids had the opportunity to explore everything from movie editing and character design to animation, gaining hands-on experience and valuable filmmaking skills.

KIDS FILM COMPETITION

Friday’s Kids Film Competition celebrated the creativity of young filmmakers, giving students in grades K–8 the chance to showcase their talent on the big screen! The event provided an outlet for budding storytellers to express themselves through film and practice the art of moviemaking. The evening wrapped up with an awards ceremony honoring their outstanding work. Check out this year’s winners here!

FESTIVAL FIELD TRIPS

We had a blast hosting schools from across Utah for our annual Tumbleweeds Festival Field Trips! These field trips go beyond movie-watching, they spark creativity and career curiosity in young minds.

Want your school to join the fun next year? Join our waitlist for information and early registration for 2026!

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Congratulations to I Accidentally Wrote a Book—this year’s Audience Favorite! This heartwarming story follows 12-year-old Nina, an aspiring writer who gets help from her neighbor as she learns the craft. But soon, Nina makes a surprising discovery: her own life is unfolding like a novel.

⭐Utah’s favorite film festival for kids and families ⭐

Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids is Utah’s premier celebration of stories for young audiences, featuring a one-day festival packed with films, workshops, and hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Presented in partnership with Salt Lake County Library, Tumbleweeds showcases stories and young protagonists from around the globe that inspire, entertain, and expand our understanding of the world.

In its 14-year history, Tumbleweeds and its festival field trips have reached over 33,000 Utahns. Powered by the nonprofit Utah Film Center, the festival sparks creativity, connection, and curiosity through the magic of film.

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We can’t wait to see you at next year’s festival!

Whether you love to watch films, want to explore the hands on activities at the Clubhouse, or do both, a day pass is your access to the Festival!

Each day pass includes the following perks: In-person films on a first come, first served basis

  • Clubhouse activities.
  • Free UTA transit to the Festival at Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville
 

Each member of your group needs a pass to access Tumbleweeds. Workshops require additional registration and fee. 

Choose a Saturday day pass, a Sunday day pass, or both! 

Yes! Keep me updated on announcements for pass sales, ticket availability, film schedule, and workshop sales for 2024 Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids, April 19-20.