Haymaker 2025: KILL, DRAGONS FOREVER, Shorts From Around The World And More For The Inaugural Action Film Fest!
Things have been brewing for the organizers behind the upcoming first-annual Haymaker Film Festival since before we helped share announcements for it back in February. The festival now has its debut line-up ready and curated for its two-day event which you can view below, including a bevy of shortfilms from independent filmmakers, and a trio of hit features.
A brand-new event for 2025, Haymaker Film Festival is an unconventional voice among the traditional festival circuit and rejects the notion of action filmmaking being unsophisticated. The Festival aims to champion independent action cinema and pay proper reverence to the tenacity and lifelong dedication of those who create it.
Hosted in-person at The Beehive, an alternative arts and live events venue in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, the Organizers’ punk rock roots are immediately evident. As a first-year festival, the DIY ethos is central to their mission to showcase dynamic, exciting filmmakers and stunt performers, many of whom create within a similar do-it-yourself mindset and environment.
Early bird passes are also available at the official website ahead of the Haymaker Film Festival’s launch on October 10. Read on below and if you’re in the area, get your tix today.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Haymaker Film Festival Announces 2025 Official Selections, Lineup
Haymaker Film Festival has announced its Official Selections and daily programming for its debut season
Official Selections include 16 short films from across the globe
Salt Lake City, UT — Haymaker Film Festival has formally announced its Official Selections, along with select Special Screenings, for its inaugural season. This year’s program contains 16 shorts and 3 feature films (1 Official Selection and 2 Special Screenings). The program will showcase contemporary, independent action cinema from around the world, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Additionally, Haymaker Film Festival will highlight local talent with a Utah Stunt Performers Showcase. The Festival is scheduled to take place on October 10 and 11 in Salt Lake City, UT.
October 10, 2025
Official Selections
•Flora (Zac Sultzer)
•Gunslinger Mary (Joey Min)
•Ace of Spades (Spencer Schwendiman)
•Darlin’ (Robert Gamperl, Travis Lee Eller)
•4 Graves for Ximena (Jordan Santacana)
•Tepache (Carlos Garcia, Jr.)
•Brawler (Bulent Ozlarusso)
•Tiger Cop: Project A (Adrian Castro)
Special Screening
•Dragons Forever (Sammo Kam-Bo Hung) | Feature film
October 11, 2025
Official Selections
•The Brokenhearted (Leroy Nguyen) | Feature film
•Backstabbed (Dan Dargan Carter)
•Waterlogged (Kent Lloyd)
•NYX (Bulent Ozlarusso)
CONTIGO (Rodrigo Enrique Perez)
•Night Shift (Lorenz Hideyoshi Ruwwe)
•Just the Janitor (Sterling Gates)
•Prevail (Ryan Dalan)
•Thermopylae (Bryan Sloyer)
Special Screening
•Kill (Nikhil Nagesh Bhat) | Feature film
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