PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Matt Black is the director/editor of the feature documentary Bright Spark: The Reconciliation of Trevor Southey which had a six week theatrical run in Utah and will air nationally on PBS in 2024. He served on the steering committee of the Seattle Documentary Association from 2016-2017, and his experience with that group inspired him to start a similar association to serve the filmmaking community here in Utah. Matt has a master's degree in Documentary Film from Stanford University and was a Filmmaker-in-Residence at the Utah Film Center from 2021-2023.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

J.R. Hardman serves as Associate Producer at PBS Utah for the award-winning series This is Utah and Utah Insight. She previously served as Operations Manager for Sundance Institute Artist Programs; as Senior Tour Manager for Campus Movie Fest, the world's largest student film festival; and as Technical Director for Camp Flix kids filmmaking camp. J.R. has created short films which have premiered at a variety of festivals including the Outfest and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. She earned her BA in Cinema/Television Production and Spanish from the University of Southern California. J.R.’s first feature-length documentary as director, Reenactress, is currently in production. She also serves as Co-chair of the Membership Committee for the Documentary Producers Alliance.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Tyler Smith is an Associate Professor of Film in the Department of Performing Arts at Salt Lake Community College. Smith is a geek at heart. His research interests are documentary film, visual anthropology, media in culture, diversity in media, media ethics, and using the camera as a research tool.

Smith began teaching in 1998 as a graduate student while studying documentary film and over the past 25 years has taught a variety of courses in media production and criticism. As a documentary filmmaker and artist, Tyler considers himself a professional people watcher who enjoys studying the connections between media and society.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Holly Tuckett is a veteran storyteller, filmmaker and cinematographer. Anchor Point is her second feature-length documentary film. Her first, Church & State, debuted in 2018, winning a Special Jury Award at AmDocs and Best Feature Documentary at the Nice International Film Festival in France. Her documentary short, “Timi Earl Skelton Girl” — which she produced, directed & edited — screened at the Park City Film Series in conjunction with the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Holly’s producing credits also include the 2008 festival circuit favorite Una Vida Mejor. Holly has contributed to nearly 100 film/television productions, including work for National Geographic, Discovery, Vice, TLC, NBC Olympic broadcasts & more.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

John Meier is an accomplished Emmy Award-winning documentarian, dedicated to the art of storytelling. Currently, he works in Utah's public media landscape. His remarkable journey as a producer includes his pivotal role in the documentary Llama Nation, which garnered a multitude of accolades at film festivals nationwide.

Throughout his career, John has devoted his talents to shedding light on the pressing issues faced by the state of Utah. His creative vision has left an indelible mark on a wide array of Utah-based programs, including The County Seat, At Your Leisure, This is Utah, and Utah Insight. These contributions have not only showcased John's exceptional storytelling abilities but have also provided a platform for addressing crucial regional concerns.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Sam has produced more than 30 films from profile pieces to technical gear videos for Petzl America. She finds joy in the dirty, chaotic moments, with the shy stranger and convoluted logistics. Sam has visited more than 15 countries and is comfortable in the uncomfortable. She has a quiet fire, and will fight to share truth, beauty -- and strength of the human condition through documentary films.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Having worked on various film sets since 1998, Richardson has always had a passion for filmmaking. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production from The Art Institute of Salt Lake in 2011, he shortly thereafter founded Glemati Road Pictures, a successful industrial filmmaking business in Salt Lake City.

A multi-award winning director and producer, he has worked on many different kinds of productions in countries all over the world. From award winning commercials, documentaries, feature films, cable television shows, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea, and industrial films, Richardson has experienced nearly the full gamut of media production.

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Leesie Clegg is a gaffer by day and documentary filmmaker by night. She has worked on several feature documentaries that you’ve never heard of. She is a Utahn, committed to listening and contributing to our current conversations on water, food, and economic development through the lens of a community member and artist. Clegg graduated from Brigham Young University’s Media Arts program in 2020.