Local press coverage about the future of Utah’s “film ecosystem” and the possible role that “A.I.” might have to play in it, leave readers with a distinct impression that a $2M grant to a nonprofit organization nobody has heard of was a done deal. Especially when the headlines include phrasing like, “...Initiative gets $2 million from state,” “Utah invests $2 million in an AI-driven film ecosystem,” and “Utah invests $2M in AI cinema.”
Obviously, this is clickbait for those whose interests in filmmaking and machine learning overlap. It becomes problematic only when the stories themselves make assertions such as “Nuovo Film Festival, Inc... has received $2 million...”
The articles state that the grant takes the form of an Industrial Assistance Account, so references were also made to the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), though there were no press releases on the topic and no quotes from GOEO staff. As far as I can tell, only one journalist—not from Utah and with established bona fides, writing for an industry publication—appears to have at least made an effort, publication—appears to have at least made an effort, including in their coverage “... board members did not respond to a request for comment.”
I had to jump through some bureaucratic hoops to obtain the two attached letters. The first is from Patrick Fitzgibbon, the GOEO Public Information Officer, denying a GRAMA Records Request regarding a grant for “Nuovo Film Festival, Inc.” worth $2M, in which they stated the following:
“...a formal grant application has not yet been generated or submitted…no decision has been made regarding this funding, the grant has not been awarded, and no award letters, scoring sheets, or executed contracts currently exist.”
Patrick Fitzgibbon
The second letter is an affirmation of that denial from Jefferson Moss, the Executive Director of the GOEO, making similar citations but also addressing recent press coverage:
“...I note that your February 18 appeal letter referenced press coverage suggesting that GOEO has already funded the Nuovo Film Festival. I understand how these reports could lead to that conclusion; however, I can assure you that those reports do not reflect the current status of this project, and no funding has been approved.
Jefferson Moss, GOEO Director
Do news outlets issue retractions anymore, or do they just update their web pages and hope no one goes back to check whether they ever got it right?
Honestly, I’m less concerned about the current state of journalism than I am about government cronyism and potential fraud in the nonprofit sector. I know that Nuovo Film Festival, Inc. is technically a nonprofit on paper—meeting a bare minimum standard to qualify for legal existence—but so do a parade of “Talent Agencies” in the Beehive state scamming young models with “acting classes” and “professional photos” with little more than a Facebook page and a DBA (usually in that order).
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https://www.joepuente.org/2026/02/ethics.html
From: Rémi Rostan…studiolhc...Subject: Re: (2 sources) Fact Check on $2M grant for Utah nonprofitDate: March 3, 2026 at 10:48:40 PM MST
Hello Joe,It's been corrected.Thank you,R