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Mental Health – Autism – Recovery – Disability – Community Awareness

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Support creativity in Utah mental health programs at FoF '26!

Focus on Fests is not your average event — it’s an immersive experience mixing creativity and advocacy. These one-of-a-kind popup events blend filmmaking, multimedia, storytelling, and live performances to ignite conversations and build a stigma-free community. The 2026 program features premiere short films, panel discussions, presentations, and the innovative photo journalistic storytelling of Frame of Mynd!

Designed to inspire and unite, Focus on Fests brings together edutainment, elevation, and connected perspectives — all rooted right here in Salt Lake City. From powerful youth-driven programs to all-ages interactive showcases, this is where awareness comes alive and change takes center stage.

Tickets are $20 (Community free tix code MHFREE) and support Mental Healthy F.i.T.’s much needed education and awareness programming in Utah. Thanks to all our sponsors! National Endowment of the Arts, Miller Family Foundation, Alliance House, Zoo Arts and Parks, IHC and Changes Health and Fitness. Check out the rest of our sponsors below.

Mental Health - Autism - Recovery - Disability - Community Awareness

May 19th 2026 – 6:00pm – show 6:30pm

Utah Film Center, 375 W 400 N, SLC

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Top notch films - only at FoF!

Create. Educate. Motivate. Let’s break the stigma and build stronger, healthier connections together. Hover over the posters to find out more about each film.

DECAYING: Behind the Seams – Focus – Birds of a Feather – Deaf Date – Notes For Tomorrow Film – Viola – Bruno’s Wings

These films will play on May 19th for Mental Health Awareness Month. Further films will screen later in the year. Details below.

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Focus

Bullied for his colourful, kid-like fidgets, young Kai - who has autism and dyslexia - no longer wanted to live. Left with no other choice, he forged his own from a bike chain. By 18, that single act of defiance has become Kaiko Fidgets, a company purpose-built for the neurodivergent community.

Focus is the story of a young founder who transformed his darkest years into a movement and became a voice for everyone who was ever told that who they are is a problem to be fixed.

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Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather
A neurodivergent teenage boy with a fixation on birds navigates school bullying along with his first crush.

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Deaf Date

Deaf Date
Desperate to impress a date who's one dealbreaker is deafness, a Deaf man ditches his cochlear implant and attempts to bluff his way through a chaotic double date.

Notes for Tomorrow
Notes for Tomorrow

Notes for Tomorrow
Notes For Tomorrow is a tender exploration of love, memory, and loss. After one partner begins to fade, the other navigates the quiet rhythms of daily life, guided by hand written notes and frozen meals left behind.
Set in the presence of nature, the film reveals how memory can both haunt and comfort, and how love endures even in absence.

Viola
Viola

Viola
The viola section of a large orchestra auditions (behind a screen) a new violist for their ensemble. The candidates are terrible, and the violists bicker among themselves. Suddenly, the perfect violist plays; it's pure bliss. But in the third round, when they discover the candidate's identity and see their wheelchair, their awkwardness as able-bodied people dealing with a disabled person pushes one of the violists in the section to reveal her own invisible disability to her colleagues with a bang. Will the four violists find a semblance of harmony again?

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Decaying - Behind the Seams

Decaying - Behind the Seams
35 neurodiverse kids. 23 Saturdays. 10 zombies. 1 short film. Drag your rotting corpse behind the seams of this handmade horror and discover a love letter to creativity, neurodiversity, and organized chaos.

Untitled design (83)
Bruno's Wings

Bruno's Wings
A young autistic boy is raised alone from birth, almost without contact from his parents. His only companions throughout his life are his books, until he decides to face all his fears and overcome his limits, driven only by his passion and tireless curiosity.

What is Frame of Mynd?

Frame of Mynd is a bold public awareness campaign spotlighting powerful mental health success stories from real Utah voices. From grassroots advocates to high-profile changemakers, we’re capturing the full spectrum of impact — because every story matters.

Each featured advocate will be part of the Frame of Mynd Collage, a dynamic visual tribute to lived experience and resilience. They’ll step in front of the lens with a self-portrait and a curated environmental shot in their recharge space — a space that reflects their personal journey with mental health.

Alongside striking visuals, each spotlight will include an interview, practical tips, and go-to resources — all premiering at Focus on Fests, May 2026. This is more than a showcase. It’s a movement.

Who will be in The Frame of Mynd?

But that's not all for 2026! Join us in September for Recovery Month, and a special October showcase focusing on Autism elevation!

Mental Health - Autism - Recovery - Disability - Suicide Prevention

Focus on Recovery – September 11th – SLC Library – Details click here
Focus on Autism – October 11th – West Valley Multicultural Center – Details soon

Why Focus on Fests?

Our film events offer a unique blend of education, creativity, and community impact designed to inspire and empower.

Enjoy powerful advocacy films—narrative, documentary, and experimental—many featuring exclusive premieres. Take part by sharing your story, screening your film, or showcasing your art. Together, we’re building stronger, more connected communities.

Focus on Fridays

But the topics explored with Focus on Fests don’t just happen once a year in real life! So join us on the first Friday of each month for a special lunch and learn mini showcase film and interview.

Check out the Feel Reels page for past episodes.

How to get involved?

Program schedule above

Submit Ideas
Perform
Watch Past Films
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Absent of Me

"Absent of Me" is a short documentary that offers a look into the lives of nine individuals across 5 U.S. states and 3 countries who live with a little-known mental health condition known as depersonalization disorder. 

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Alpha House

Addiction and mental health go hand in hand. our documentary shorts  deal with addiction and mental health. Alpha House has helped may men stay clean and build their lives back up and no one knows this more than Andrew McLeod. 

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The Lost Boys

The Lost Boys is a 2024 short film written, directed, and produced by Bryan young. It tells the story of a young man haunted by the events of his past and has a fateful visit to his local cemetery. 

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Waiting for Zorro

Hidden within the confines of family homes, the parents of children with severe additional support needs dream of finding a long-term place or assistance from services that can welcome and support their loved ones. 

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The Razor's Edge

Highlights the daily struggles faced by individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty, and the many respected organizations in Michigan, Florida, and Washington D.C. that provide essential support services, such as food, shelter, housing, and comprehensive assistance to those in need. 

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Art is the Culture

Explores the store of its creator Rich Simmons, from art therapy, to an art career, and back to art therapy. This inspiring story explains the thoughts, emotions, and passions that went into creating this creative movement. 

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Louie's Shoes

Louis, 8 and a half years old, is autistic. he arrives at his new school and is about to introduce himself. 

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Inside Our Autistic Minds

Featuring the creative talents of autistic adults and how they communicate to enhance their community and those closest to them. 

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Disability in Focus

Disability In Focus is a documentary short that offers an intimate look into how portrait photography tells the stories of individuals with disabilities. 

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David Again

The story of David Dennis, his road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and his lifelong friendship with actor Jon Cryer. It is a story about redemption, the power of friendship, and the promise that it is never too late to ask for help. 

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The Feast

It's just another (excruciating) meal for Vienna - until an offer to conquer her greatest fear in '3 simple steps' arrives. Desperate for freedom from her fear of eating, Vienna takes the offer up - only to realize she bit off far more than she can chew. 

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promise

A short experimental dance film exploring the intersection of prescription opioid abuse and grief. 

Presenting sponsors

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Focus on Fests is a Mental Healthy F.i.T. Program

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