Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids

08/05/2026

Beat the heat with a free family movie this weekend!

Join us for JIPPIE NO MORE! on Saturday, August 8 at 2 PM as part of our Tumbleweeds Year-Round series.

This charming coming-of-age story follows Jaap Peter ("Jippie"), a teenager with Down syndrome, as he experiences first love during the whirlwind weekend of his sister's wedding. Filled with humor and heart, it's a joyful celebration of family, independence, and growing up.

✨ Join us after the film for a grab-and-go activity inspired by the film!

⚠️ Age Recommendation: Ages 12 and up
📅 Saturday, August 8 at 2 PM
📍 Utah Film Center
🎟️ RSVP at https://bit.ly/4wbvANw

06/30/2026

Buckle up for an intergalactic adventure next month. 🚀

Experience the excitement of SPACE CADET, a heartwarming animated journey about courage, growing up, and finding your place in the universe. As young astronaut Celeste embarks on her first solo mission, the loyal robot who raised her learns that even the biggest adventures can happen back home. Don't miss this free screening presented as part of our Tumbleweeds Year-Round series at Utah Film Center.

Perfect for fans of: WALL·E, BIG HERO 6, and THE WILD ROBOT

⚠️ Age Recommendation: Ages 6 and up
📅 Saturday, July 11 @ 10 AM
📍 Utah Film Center
🎟️ RSVP at https://bit.ly/3TbJ7Xh

06/17/2026

We're honored to be featured in the West Jordan Journal! ✨

This article highlights what makes Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids so special: inspiring young storytellers, bringing families together, and making film education accessible to all.

As Festival Director Julie Gale shared, Tumbleweeds has grown into a beloved community tradition where kids can explore filmmaking, discover incredible stories, and spark their creativity—all in a fun, learning environment.

Read the full story below and learn more about how Tumbleweeds continues to celebrate the power of kids' creativity and imagination: https://www.westjordanjournal.com/2026/06/10/573991/tumbleweeds-film-festival-features-movies-by-children-for-children

Kids could learn all about filmmaking at the event, held every year at the Viridian Center in April.

05/05/2026

Big adventures. Bold stories. Unforgettable characters.
Utah Film Center’s Tumbleweeds Year-Round program returns this summer with a lineup of films that spark imagination and celebrate stories about kids, for kids (and the grown-ups who love them!).

Films in the lineup:
THE LAST WHALE SINGER — an ocean adventure about courage, friendship, and finding your voice
SPACE CADET — a stunning, storybook-inspired journey through space and connection
JIPPIE NO MORE! — a joyful coming-of-age story full of heart, humor, and unforgettable dance moves

Join us for family-friendly films that entertain, inspire, and illuminate the world around us!

🎟️ RSVP now at https://bit.ly/4dt1Ioz

04/28/2026

Announcing the Audience Award Winner for Best Short Film! 🎉

The winning film is...
Bat Boy!

This film follows Andre, a young man on the autism spectrum, is deeply passionate about the bats living beneath a highway overpass near his East LA home. When the bats suddenly disappear, he teams up with a jaded biologist to uncover the mystery.

Thank you to everyone who voted at the festival!

04/28/2026

The audience has spoken, we tallied up your votes and we're excited to reveal the Audience Award for Best Feature Film from this weekend's Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids!

The winning film is...
¡SALTA!

This imaginative adventure follows Oscar and Teo, two very different brothers navigating the loss of their mother—a scientist obsessed with wormholes. When Teo discovers a portal that jumps two decades into the future, he must team up with Adult Oscar to find his way back to the 1980s.

Thank you to everyone who voted at the festival!

04/27/2026

THAT’S A WRAP 🎬
Thanks for joining us at the 2026 Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Kids! Here are a few highlights:

⭐ FILMS ⭐
This year’s theme, “Passion in Action,” celebrated the power of kids following what excites them. All films were free to attend and showcased stories from around the world, highlighting diverse cultures, languages, and perspectives that inspired audiences of all ages.

⭐ WORKSHOPS ⭐
Creativity took center stage in our hands-on workshops, where young storytellers explored everything from video game design to special effects—gaining real filmmaking skills along the way.

⭐ CLUBHOUSE ⭐
Our free Tumbleweeds Clubhouse was packed with crafts, activities, and immersive experiences for the whole family. Huge thanks to our local partners and artists for bringing it to life with VR filmmaking, puppet movies, caricatures, and more!

⭐ KIDS FILM COMPETITION ⭐
Friday night’s competition showcased the incredible talent of young creators across the state! Students K–8 wowed us with original short films and took home awards.

⭐ FESTIVAL FIELD TRIPS ⭐
We loved hosting schools from across Utah for our annual field trips, designed to spark creativity through filmmaking, storytelling, and media education.

Captured a special Tumbleweeds moment? Tag us on Instagram and use —we’d love to see it!

04/25/2026

Today is the day! We’re here at Tumbleweeds with The County Library and Utah Film Center ✨

The doors are open, the screens are rolling, and the fun is officially underway! Come hang with us for a day full of films and hands-on activities for the whole family.

Walk-ups welcome—see you soon! 🍿🎉

04/25/2026

What if you could jump into the future… and meet your sibling as an adult?

¡Salta! is a heart-filled, time-travel adventure about two brothers, Oscar and Teo, navigating the loss of their mother—and a mind-bending wormhole that sends Teo two decades into the future. To find his way back home, he’ll need the help of Adult Oscar.

For Fans of: Disney’s The Kid, Zathura, Back to the Future, Mary Poppins, A Kid in King Arthur’s Court

Recommended for ages 6 & up
🗓 April 25 at 4:50 PM
📍 Viridian Event Center
🎟 FREE—tickets at https://tumbleweedskids.org/film-program/

04/24/2026

She’s back—and heading to Hollywood. ✨

Dancing Queen 2 in Hollywood follows Mina and Markus as they travel to Los Angeles to star in a music video. But between family challenges, growing pains, and finding her voice, Mina quickly learns that chasing your dreams isn’t always as easy as it looks!

For Fans of: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Work It, Stomp the Yard, Disney’s Camp Rock, Eloise in Hollywood

Recommended for ages 10 & up
🗓 April 25 at 6:50 PM
📍 Viridian Event Center
🎟 FREE—tickets at https://tumbleweedskids.org/film-program/