Utah Film Center seeks $350,000 to finish film hub and incubator ahead of Olympics workforce needs

Senator Weiler and Mariah Mellis, Executive Director of the Utah Film Center, asked the subcommittee for a $350,000 one‑time infrastructure allocation to help complete a statewide film‑focused creative hub and incubator. Mellis told members the center oversees K‑12 media education, teacher professional development, a youth film competition and statewide festivals, and that the new facility includes coworking space, a 180‑seat screening room, editing suites and production offices.

“We are here today to ask for $350,000 in a 1 time allocation to help us close the gap on our $6,500,000 capital campaign,” Mellis said. The presentation said the center had already raised $3,500,000 toward that goal and financed the building purchase with a loan from Zions Bank; the request seeks public and private funding to pay down building obligations and focus resources on programming and partnerships.

Brent Huberty, a resident tenant and local producer, described the center’s role in workforce development, internships and industry partnerships and urged the committee to support the request so the center can expand training ahead of the Olympics.