The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Film proudly celebrates the achievements of its alumni, students, and faculty at the 12th annual Nevada Women’s Film Festival (NWFFest), taking place March 19–22 on the UNLV campus.
This year’s festival features 72 films from 15 countries across multiple genres, highlighting stories created by or about women. Official selections include feature films, short films, and even television episodes from current UNLV Department of Film students, graduated alumni, and UNLV faculty and staff. Numerous UNLV filmmakers also contributed across multiple productions, demonstrating the depth of talent fostered within the department. Official selections featuring members of the UNLV community include (but are not limited to):
Ditched directed by Hannah Werner
daylight directed by Andrea A Walter
Beyond the Pane directed by Shahab Zargari
Monsters directed by Joel Martinez
Sunny Yard directed by Trina Colon
Everything Good directed by Roni Canieso
Lolly Dagger Eats Sponge Cake directed by Aaron W. Brown
Seasonal Work directed by Jason Harris
Only Space and Time directed by Christopher Cameron
In addition to the strong representation of alumni, students, and faculty in the official selections, the NWFFest Executive Committee includes several UNLV leaders and collaborators:
Nikki Corda, Executive Director & Founder
Dr. Heather Addison, UNLV Dept. of Film Chair
Veronica Castillo, Tech Producer
Tiffanie Rose Ignacio, Editor
Adam Paul, Director of Talent & Festival Outreach
Sarah O’Connell, Community Outreach Director
Ashley Rapuano Sanchez, Communications Director
Brett Levner, Executive Board
Dani Ladner, Social Media Manager
Jemsen Yumico Bollozos, Tech Team
Nadine-Gabrielle Natividad, Tech Team
Beyond film screenings, the 2026 NWFFest features dynamic programming including panel conversations such as The Vertical Vision, The State of the Industry in Nevada, The Perils & Possibilities of Generative AI, and Building a Filmmaking Community—all featuring or moderated by members of the UNLV community. The festival will also host mixers, meet-ups, parties, and networking opportunities for filmmakers and creatives to connect and collaborate, as well as an official awards show at the end of the festival’s programming. The NWFFest is a celebration of storytelling as a whole within the walls of UNLV.
As a testament to the strong collaboration between NWFFest and the UNLV community, one of this year’s official selections is daylight, directed by Andrea A. Walter. The film was developed through the UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab, a program that brings emerging filmmakers to campus for an intensive, semester-embedded experience. During the program, fellows work closely with students to guide them through the process of producing a proof of concept. Walter collaborated with alumni, current students, and faculty to create the short film. daylight stands as a powerful example of the UNLV community coming together to showcase its talent at NWFFest.
Nikki Corda, Executive Director & Founder of NWFFest, as well as UNLV Film Professor, shares “We are thrilled to be back at the Department of Film at UNLV. The campus environment has allowed for wonderful opportunities for cross-collaboration, making it possible for our festival to connect with departments whose areas of interest align with many of the films and panels in our lineup. We are especially grateful to Dr. Heather Addison for hosting our festival here at the Department of Film.” The strong representation of UNLV alumni, students, and faculty at NWFFest underscores the enduring partnership between the festival and the UNLV Department of Film, where the event is hosted annually. It also reflects the continued success of the department in cultivating filmmakers whose work is recognized and celebrated at regional and international levels. Inclusion in the festival celebrates both the creation of new work and its recognition within the broader film community.
Official selections, programming, and scheduling are now available, along with all-festival passes and individual block tickets. For more information or to purchase passes/tickets to the festival, please visit: https://www.nwffest.com.
The official trailer for the festival is available at: https://youtu.be/FX56LO-ZiHI?si=l2-xFTNmIcjcJhew
To learn more about the UNLV Department of Film and its relationship with NWFFest, visit https://www.unlv.edu/film
Interviews with UNLV alumni, students, and faculty – as well as NWFFest filmmakers and team members are available upon request.
ABOUT NEVADA WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival (NWFFest) is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and supporting the fair representation of women in film. Through high-quality programming, panels, and events, NWFFest has been at the forefront of conversations around equity and inclusion since 2015. Festival programming includes films by or about women that highlight diverse perspectives and provide a platform for historically marginalized storytellers.
NWFFest is a project of Women in Film (WIF) Nevada, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; all donations are tax-deductible. The festival is supported, in part, by the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. NWFFest is a FilmFreeway Gold Festival and is IMDb-qualifying. The festival is produced in partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Film. The 12th annual Nevada Women’s Film Festival will take place March 19–22, 2026, at UNLV.
For more information, visit https://www.nwffest.com/
ABOUT WOMEN IN FILM NEVADA
Women in Film (WIF) Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces the Nevada Women’s Film Festival. WIF Nevada amplifies underrepresented voices and fosters equity in the film and screen industries through education, mentorship, and advocacy. By providing inclusive opportunities for creative expression, WIF Nevada cultivates a diverse and socially conscious film community while positioning Nevada as a leader in arts, culture, and education. WIF Nevada is a proud chapter of Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI).
For more information, visit https://www.nwffest.com/wif/ and https://www.wifti.net/.
MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley Sanchez
Nocturne PR | UNLV Department of Film, Public Relations Consultant
702-427-7670
ashley@nocturnepr.net
Jennifer Vaughan
UNLV College of Fine Arts, Communications Director
jennifer.vaughan@unlv.edu
FESTIVAL CONTACT
info@nwffest.com
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