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Dam Short Film Festival, kicking off Wednesday, will screen 129 short movies

With less than a week to go until the 12th annual Dam Short Film Festival, last minute details are being finalized to make sure this year's festival is the best one yet, according to Lee Lanier, executive director.

"We had a record number for attendance last year, and we're actually looking to top that this year," Lanier said. "We're finishing up training our volunteers, and we are making final arrangements on things like printing programs, and posters."

In all, 129 films will be shown Feb. 10-13 at the Boulder Theatre, with a variety of different genres to choose from, including drama, animation, comedy, drama, romance, sci-fi, horror and underground, which offers a naughty side. Films are scheduled to be shown from noon to 9 p.m. in about hour-long blocks.

As in past years, local filmmakers will be showcased in the Nevada Filmmakers program, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 11.

In addition, a special program featuring films from France will be shown at 3:45 p.m. Feb. 11.

For filmmaker Adam Zielinski, this year will be his sixth time he has submitted a film in the festival. Zielinski, who graduated from UNLV with a degree in film, will be showing his film "Call You Later," which is about a guy who is struggling to understand what he wants in the dating world on top of dealing with people's feelings and expectations.

"What keeps me coming back is that John Labonney (a board director for the festival) is an excellent director and the staff is really great every year," Zielinski said. "What I really like to see is that they do their due diligence in staying up with the technology. So this year we went to a screening format of DCP (digital cinema package), which is a more professional delivery, and that just shows the level they want to take the festival to."

Zielinski said he feels Boulder City is the perfect town to have a film festival like this because it is just outside of Las Vegas and provides enough small town charm.

This year, 40 film crews from all over the world are scheduled to attend the festival. They will be arriving on Tuesday and Wednesday, just in time for the commencement of the festival.

"I'm always excited to see a new batch of films come in. I just don't know if I can pick one thing to be excited about, there's so much going on," Lanier said.

A great deal of festival fan favorites will be returning this year, that includes a meet and greet with the filmmakers, an award ceremony with the winners being selected by the audience, and a mixer so filmmakers and fans can mingle with each other.

The Best of the Fest films voted by audience members will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, just prior to the awards ceremony.

Four-day passes to the festival are available for $100. Also available is a one-day pass for $30, or a one program pass (which includes four to 11 short films) for $9. Tickets are sold online, as well as at door the day of the festival.

Contact reporter Juan Diego Pergentili at jpergentili@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @jdpbcreview.

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Best Bets, March 9-15

1 READY TO ROCK: The Rock, Roll & Stroll fundraiser for the Senior Center of Boulder City’s Meals on Wheels program will be presented from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Bicentennial Park, 999 Colorado St. The fifth annual event will include a car show, games, food and music by DJ Mike Pacini. For more information, call 702-293-3320.

Best Bets, March 2-8

1 MUSIC MAKER: Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ted Sablay will perform at the Boulder Dam Brewing Company from 7-10 Saturday night. A native of Wisconsin, Sablay now calls Las Vegas home. He has spent much of the past 20 years as a touring member and regular collaborator with The Killers. He debuted his first album as a solo artist in 2022. The Brewpub is at 453 Nevada Way. Call 702-243-2739 or visit www.boulderdambrewing.com for more information.

Best Bets, Feb. 23-March 1

1 FANTASTIC THEATER: The Young Hearts Theater Group, sponsored by Boulder City United Methodist Church, will present C.S. Lewis’ classic fantasy tale “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Elaine K. Smith Building, 700 Wyoming St. Admission is free.

Best Bets, Feb. 16-22

1 MORE MOVIES: The Dam Short Film Festival returns for its 19th incarnation and with in-person screenings, but at a new location. Scheduled Thursday through Monday at the Elaine K. Smith Building, 700 Wyoming St., the festival will screen 153 short films in about 30 programs. Tickets are $12.50 per program, $45 for a full-day pass and $150 for an event pass. Visit www.damshortfilm.org for more information.

Best Bets, Feb. 9-15

1 RED CARPET READY: Celebrity couples will be roaming the streets downtown Saturday as the Best Dam Wine Walk hosts its monthly event. Scheduled from 4-8 p.m., with check-in through 6:30 at My 4 Sons Comic Cards, 1308 Wyoming St., the wine walk provides an opportunity to visit local businesses, often after their regular hours. Admission is $25 per person, plus Eventbrite fees, in advance or $30 at check-in.

Film fest returns to in-person schedule

After two years of trying to do everything online, Lee Lanier is ready to welcome live audiences back to the Dam Short Film Festival. The latest edition of the popular festival is scheduled to run Feb. 16-20 in downtown Boulder City.