Growth, Excellence and a Bright Future for Generations
Photography and written by Isabel M. Castro
“These stories are amazing, and we hope to continue this good, feel-good news from filmmakers. We have been doing this because of the values that we have, and it’s no accident that we found a home at the UNLV Department of Film, which continues to rank as the most diverse campuses in the United States and has a world-class program.” -Nikki Corda, Executive Director, and Founder NWFFest.
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival (NWFFest) celebrated its 10th annual event at the University of Nevada Department of Film from June 19-23. The extensive fest showcased an impressive selection of approximately 100 films by talented women from 21 countries. To commemorate the occasion, on June 21, the festival hosted a star-studded alumni reunion panel of Nevada honorees titled "Women of the Decade." This illustrious lineup of Nevada superstars included the 2024 Nevada Woman Filmmaker of the Year, Kari Barber, and was moderated by UNLV Film Chair Dr. Heather Addison.
The Q&A portion of the panel was lively, with participants sharing personal experiences and anecdotes about their careers—after all, it was a homecoming for many. The high point of the evening came at the end of the session when panel members keenly noted that Las Vegas holds a promising future in film and tech. They highlighted the limitless potential for growth and development in Nevada. Creating new studio campuses seemed within reach, hinting at an impending industry boom. The consensus was strong and clear—government and educational institutions must be prepared and invest in developing creative and technical training at all levels for the next generation. Moreover, an initial investment is crucial to educate and train homegrown talent to meet new industries' rigorous and technical demands, thus preparing talent pools similar to those in the gaming, sports, and entertainment industries.
Following the panel presentation, the celebration continued with the “Party of the Decade” at the Barrick Museum. The environment was warm and welcoming, with festive exhibits and music creating a vibrant atmosphere. Also included in the long list of activities was a keynote talk delivered by film festival expert Crickett Rumley, titled "How to Make the Most of Your Film Festival Run," followed by a Q&A session. Additionally, there was an Animation panel featuring animators Kamora Jones, Jo Meuris, James Parris, and Zhang Jinghan, moderated by Jennifer Dean, as well as the Young Filmmakers’ Showcase and Kinetic Canvas, an interactive art exhibit by Dani Weitman.
The high point of the NWFFest culminated with the fabulous 10th Annual Femmy Awards 2024 Winners, which included:
Spirit of Community Arts, Beverly Rogers, Inaugural Honoree
Best Short Documentary, Snowdrops for the Brians, Donna Dees, Director
Best Short Drama, Blue Hour, J.D. Shields, Director
Best Short Comedy, The Burden, Tish Arana, Director
Best Feature Film, Only Human, Yana Kilmova-Yusupova, Director
Best Feature Documentary, Giants Rising, Lisa Landers, Director
Best Experimental Film, AI’s Diary, Alice Barrese, Director
Best Student Film, We Were Once Basic, Don Smith, Director
Outstanding LGBTQ + Representation, Disoluta, Irlanda Mainou Montanez, Director
Spirit of Activism, Analogue Revolution, Marusya Bociurkiw, Director
Best Female Protagonist, Motorcycle Mary, Haley Watson, Director & Mary McGee, Protagonist
Best Nevada Film, Home a Mother of 3000, Jemsen Yumico Bollozos, Director
Audience, favorite, La Siguanaba, Jaquelin Ayala, Director
Vanguard Award Honoree, Healing Waters Film, Derek Johnson, Ali Scattergood, Directors
Vanguard Award Honoree 2024, Linda Troeller, Derek Johnson, Ali Scattergood, Directors
Special Femmy Award, Nikki Corda
The illustrious jury for this year’s Femmy Awards included Michele Patrick, Jeff Lester,
Susan Anton Patricia Charlton, Victoria Vinuesa, Keva McGee, and Anne Kellogg.
Film lovers and community members are encouraged to join Women in Film Nevada and enjoy year-long benefits. Some of the perks include VIP Passes to the NWFFest, exclusive educational and networking events, in-person and virtual access, and opportunities for connections and collaborations.
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival (NWFFest) is a project of the Women in Film (WIF) Nevada, a 501(c)(3) organization. This festival is made possible by support from Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support comes from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency that receives backing from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
For more information and a complete description of the program and to view film trailers, visit:
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival (NWFFest) www.nwffest.com/nwffest-2024
Facebook: @Nevada’s Women’s Film Festival,
Instagram: @NWFFest
Email: info@nwffest.com
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