Utah Filmmaker Showcase: Snowland

Cora Lee Witt is a survivor, mother of twelve, and the author and creator of Snowland—a fantasy novel and ballet set in a magical world where a young girl searches for her lost family.

Driven by her own journey, Cora envisions Snowland as a means to help fund a future healing center for women who have experienced abuse. Through her storytelling and creative expression, she champions healing, independence, and the power of new beginnings.

Jill Orschel is an award-winning filmmaker whose projects give voice to women from the rural Mountain West and other underrepresented communities. Her breakout documentary short, SISTER WIFE, about a mother of twelve within the FLDS, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, won a special jury award at SXSW, and went on to win recognition and screen throughout the country and abroad.

Jill’s non-fiction work has also premiered at DOC NYC, IDFA, and other international and independent festivals. She received a BA in Journalism from Colorado State University and an MFA in Film Studies from the University of Utah. Jill is a member of Film Fatales and the International Documentary Association.

She was the founding director of the annual Filmmakers Showcase in Park City, Utah, for fifteen years, which highlights new work by emerging and established filmmakers throughout the state.

Oreta Tupola is a powerful voice for community, culture, and connection. With more than three decades of lived and professional experience in advocacy, social systems, and community health, she has dedicated her life to building bridges between underserved communities and the institutions meant to serve them. Her work centers on breaking down barriers, uplifting voices that are often overlooked, and helping people recognize their own power and worth.

Born and raised in Hawai‘i and deeply grounded in her Pacific Island heritage, Oreta carries a deep love and respect for culture, faith, and family. She believes that when women understand their identity, value their story, and stand confidently in who they are, they become a force that inspires generations.

That belief is what led her to create The Space We Hold—a platform for honest conversations about life, healing, strength, and the relationships that sustain us. Through her leadership and voice, Oreta continues to remind us that success is not only about achievement, but about knowing who you are, where you come from, and how you use your influence to lift others along the way.