Hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Department of Film, the festival transforms theaters, auditoriums, and classrooms into screening rooms, while hallways and patios turn into lively networking corridors. For four days, campus energy shifts into cinematic celebration, showcasing an unprecedented 72 films from 15 countries—all by and about women. Conversations spark about creative trends, career paths, and what's next for global storytelling. In short: this is where stories and storytellers meet.

At the beginning of September, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launched "Welcome to Fabulous," a new campaign aiming to boost our city's flagging tourism numbers — and the ⁠60-second commercial⁠ at the heart of the campaign has been widely panned by locals. So what's wrong with the ad, and why do locals hate it so much? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Shahab Zargari, an award-winning filmmaker and marketing expert at UNLV, and Scott Roeben, AKA Vital Vegas, industry commentator and writer at Casino.org.

Nevada’s film community isn’t backing down from its quest to attract major studios to Las Vegas, despite recent legislative setbacks in their quest to obtain substantial tax incentives for the industry.

It’s home to a symphony orchestra, choral ensembles, ever-changing exhibitions, virtual galleries, and museums. It’s the base of operations for the Jazz Outreach Initiative, a concert hall, and a haven for theater students. Its halls and classrooms honor art’s history while fostering future masterpieces. The College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas powers the pulse of Sin City…and it continues to grow.

Moviemaking likely wasn’t at the front of Howard Hughes’ mind when he moved to Las Vegas in late 1966, though the aerospace pioneer and business magnate had done plenty of it. He’d produced more than two dozen films, directed 1930’s Hell’s Angels, and even ran a studio, RKO Pictures, from 1948 t0 1955,They Live by Night.during which time he produced such film noir classics as Nicholas Ray’s

Monday is our open mic show. Where you and your views, ideas and opinions take precedent.Joining us is Shahab Zargari. He’s an award-winning Iranian-American filmmaker and faculty administrator in UNLV’s College of Fine Arts. He was on State of Nevada about a year ago promoting an album of cover songs created to support anti-suicide efforts through the Trevor Project.

When a proposal to inject $190 million per year into Nevada’s film incentives program circulated in the Legislature, eyes turned to Las Vegas—and rolled in exasperation. The bill would also have expanded the state’s film tax credit program, provided for a pair of Vegas-based studio projects to help boost workforce development and larger productions, and bolstered Nevada’s film industry.

Record label owner. Filmmaker. Photographer. Communications guru for the UNLV College of Fine Arts. Shahab Zargari wears more hats than almost anyone else in Las Vegas’ creative community.