Explore 100 Years of Filmmaking in Utah: Digital Exhibition
Jan 1, 2025
Photo taken at the 100 Years of Utah Film & Television Exhibit at the Utah State Capitol (2024)
2024 marked 100 years since the first movie premiered in Utah. To celebrate this milestone, the Utah Film Commission curated an exhibit at the Utah State Capitol that highlighted the people, locations, and productions that share a part of our early filmmaking history.
This digitized version of the exhibit included photos of the actual panels and film artifacts that appeared at the Utah State Capitol.
Whether you missed visiting the exhibit in-person or want to experience again — welcome to the celebration of Utah’s film history.
Film Artifacts on display at the Utah State Capitol (2024)
Historical Overview & Timeline
For over a century, Utah’s breathtaking landscapes have proven irresistible to filmmakers near and far. From award-winning indies to Hollywood blockbusters, audiences around the world have visited Utah through countless classic films and popular television shows. 2024 not only marked 100 years of Utah film & television, but also many other impactful anniversaries for Utah’s film industry:
- 100th Anniversary of Goulding’s Monument Valley
- 100th Anniversary of Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden
- 75th Anniversary of Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission
- 50th Anniversary of Utah Film Commission
- 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival
- 25th Anniversary of Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theaters
Learn more about Utah’s rich history of filmmaking in our digital timeline:
Regions & Scenics
Utah’s remarkable scenery inspires great storytelling. Stories are etched into the walls of our red canyon, in the journals of its early explorers and in the hearts of the locals and travelers as they road trip and recreate. Experience the variety that exists in each unique part of the state of Utah.
See the Utah locations that inspired some of your favorite movie scenes by following the Germany-based film enthusiast, Andrea David’s road trip or by building your own.
You can also now experience the Utah Film Trail and explore the filming locations of some of your favorite films and televisions shows.
Film History By Genre
Even though Utah is best known for its desert landscapes featured in iconic westerns, the state’s beautiful scenery has provided a backdrop for all kinds of films and television shows. From the cozy every-day life to the far reaches of outer space, Utah productions have a location for every production and a story for every movie lover. Learn more about the different genres in Utah’s film history.
The Business of Filmmmaking: Utah's Thriving Film Industry
Over 10 years, Utah film productions created over 36,000 jobs and generated $604 million for the state’s economy supporting local businesses and encouraging tourism across the state. Learn more about the economic impact of Utah’s film industry.
As movie lovers, it is easy to lose ourselves in the story and be transported to the location so seamlessly, that we forget it’s “only a movie.” Yet, behind every film lies an equally captivating universe – the film set. Film sets employ hundreds of people to create a world where movie magic comes to life, whether on location or in a film studio.
Utah is not only a great place to make movies, it is a great place to see movies. Films are still showing in 81 of the original 326 historic Utah cinemas. Learn more about these movie houses that have helped make Utah one of North America’s top movie fan bases.
Robert Redford and the Sundance institute also played an important role in bringing new films and new talent to Utah. Robert Redford first discovered Utah on a cross-country road trip in the 1950s and was inspired by the wildness of Provo Canyon and the majesty of Mt. Timpanogos. In 1969, he starred alongside Paul Newman in the hit film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” set in scenic southern Utah. That same year, Redford purchased the Timphaven Ski Area in Provo Canyon and renamed it Sundance Mountain Resort, setting the stage for the formation of what would become Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival.
Today, Sundance Institute is recognized worldwide as one of the most important cultural organizations of its kind. The Sundance Film Festival brings hundreds of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in economic impact to Utah.
Learn More
Learn more about how you can experience our 100 years celebration.
