The life of Las Vegas icon Sammy Davis Jr., a birth control mishap and the summoning of a demon — from documentaries to fantasies, the Las Vegas Film Festival’s is offering a variety of films this year.
Ericka Schubert, director of operations and artistic relations for the festival, says it's more than just a variety of films. She said the festival provides an intimacy that most film festivals can't offer.
“The fact that we have this amazing group of artists coming together that are both locally based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and coming from all over the country to celebrate this art form right downtown is really exciting for this town,” she said.
She said the festival is another piece in all the new cultural and entertainment offerings the city has.
West McDowell is the programming director for the festival. He said it is easier than ever to make films, which means there is a lot more diverse content to choose from, and the organizers hope to capitalize on that for a bigger purpose.
“As a festival organizer, we’re just trying to figure out how we can showcase that and also get people connected,” he said.
He said besides being a chance for audiences to enjoy new films, the festival is a chance to connect filmmakers from around Southern Nevada. He hopes the festival is a place for cross-pollination of artists.
The president of the festival, Milo Kostelecky, said the festival is both for audiences and filmmakers.
“We are proud to be doing this," he said. "It is a labor of love and we’re growing it and I think we’re doing a really good job with all our new collaborations.”
Kostelecky sees the festival as a way to give back to the community he was born and raised in.
Milo Kostelecky, president; West McDowell, programming director; Ericka Schubert, director of operations and artistic relations