As we say goodbye to Sundance, we'll take a moment to look at the state of documentary filmmaking in Utah. What does it take to make a doc and make a living doing it here in Utah? We'll have experienced local filmmakers on the panel as well as a representative from the Documentary Producers Alliance who will present data about making films outside the main costal production hubs.
The event is free but register today to save your spot.
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Joining us for our presentation and panel discussion will be:
Jonathan Goodman Levitt (presenter/panelist)
Jonathan is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, who also works as a researcher, journalist, and educator. His films have charted people’s lives on five continents over multiple years; screened at 100+ festivals; and received support from BBC, PBS, NHK and Sundance Institute. His company Changeworx’s recent releases are Being BeBe (Tribeca, NYT Critics Pick) on a Cameroonian drag queen, and Among the Believers (licensed worldwide to Netflix, Spirit Award & Cinema Eye Honor nominee) on a firebrand Pakistani cleric. Jonathan has directed the documentary features Sunny Intervals and Showers (BBC Storyville, Grierson nomination), a tragicomedy on bipolar disorder; Follow the Leader (Leipzig, 10+ broadcasters), a coming-of-age story on teen politicians; and Five Living Buildings (by Renzo Piano), which will premiere in 2026.
Phil Hessler (panelist)
Phil was exposed to filmmaking early on in his teenage years through his love for skateboarding and snowboarding. When he was 19, he began producing his first feature length documentary, Far From Home, the story of Uganda’s first Olympic hopeful in snowboarding. The film found distribution through Red Bull Media House, and Phil and his partner Galen Knowles parlayed that success into creating their production company WZRD in 2015. Phil has since gone on to produce and direct content for REI, Red Bull, Bridgestone, VICE, and Ford. He has done extensive work for the Olympics – having produced and directed a series that followed six athletes from countries without snow to the 2018 Winter Olympics commissioned by The Olympic Channel, Snapchat, and Bridgestone Tires. He recently produced a feature documentary about the journey of skateboarding, surfing, and rock climbing’s induction into the 2021 Olympics executive produced by Tony Hawk for Youtube Originals along with commercial directing jobs for Red Bull and TE Connectivity. He was nominated for a YDA at Cannes in 2021.
Alan Lucchetti (panelist)
Alan Lucchetti is a Salt Lake City–based, two-time Emmy–nominated director of photography and filmmaker with more than two decades of experience in nonfiction and news storytelling. An Associate at White Rabbit Productions, his work spans documentaries, investigative reporting, and character-driven series, with a focus on visual clarity, trust, and emotional truth.
Alan has collaborated with leading networks and publications including Netflix, Disney+, Starz, Paramount Pictures, A&E, ESPN, ABC News, NBC News, Vanity Fair, and 20/20. He has also served as an editor on six feature-length documentaries, bringing a strong editorial sensibility to long-form storytelling across platforms.
He is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and is actively involved in Utah’s creative community. In addition to client work, Alan is developing original narrative and hybrid projects, including ARTIFEX, a historical-fantasy series, and Nothin’ But Bogeys, a comedy set in the world of golf.
Alan is committed to strengthening the film ecosystem in the Mountain West and regularly collaborates with local crews and partner organizations to help elevate independent storytelling throughout the region.
Holly Tuckett (panelist)
Holly Tuckett is a renowned documentary filmmaker, whose work intricately ties her liberal arts education to her passion for social activism and storytelling. Her filmography includes the award-winning Church & State, a deep dive into the legal battle for same-sex marriage in Utah, showcasing her ability to weave compelling narratives with significant social themes. Holly’s recent documentary, Anchor Point, highlights women wildland fire fighters, gaining acclaim for its inspirational message and call for change in work culture. Beyond her directorial and producing roles, Holly actively engages with audiences, amplifying marginalized voices through discussions and public forums, solidifying her reputation as a filmmaker deeply committed to societal change. Currently, in a bit of a departure from her previous works, Holly is directing and producing United States of Bourbon, a comedic YouTube docu-series, about the intersection of chemistry, art and relationships. USoB, as it is intentionally known, follows four comical characters: a broadway musical director, a broadway actor, a DC Illustrator, and film composer as they tour and taste at the great bourbon distilleries of America. All of them bonding over their love of America’s number one spirit, Bourbon.
J.R. Hardman (moderator)
J.R. Hardman is a filmmaker, documentarian, and educator. She has produced both short- and long-form documentaries for film festivals, television broadcast, and streaming. She is a five-time Rocky Mountain Southwest Regional Emmy Award recipient, and she has also received two Public Media Awards for her nonfiction work. She previously served as Associate Producer at PBS Utah from 2021-2026, as Operations Manager for Artist Programs at Sundance Institute, and as Senior Tour Manager for Campus Movie Fest, the world’s largest student film festival. She currently teaches Video Production as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah and has also taught at Utah Valley University in the Digital Media Department. She is a founding member of the Steering Committee of the Utah Documentary Association, the treasurer for the Documentary Producers Alliance, and a co-leader for Docshop South, a collaborative work-in-progress program presented by Filmshop. She received her B.A. in Cinema-Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Her first feature documentary as director, Reenactress, is currently in post-production.