UNLV Film has tapped alumni Ryan LeBoeuf (2013), Cody LeBoeuf (2016), and Rachel Alterman (2011) as Fellows for the Spring 2026 Filmmaker Vision Lab in a strategic move to elevate its signature fellowship program. This is the first time an alumni team has been invited to return to campus to produce a proof-of-concept for their debut feature film. Their involvement makes it the Lab’s most ambitious iteration to date, reflecting expanded creative scope and industry involvement, signaling where the program is headed next.
The project, entitled IT CAME FROM THE SWAMP, is a genre-blending horror with undertones of dark comedy. It marks the group’s official debut as a filmmaking team, having first met at UNLV during their undergraduate studies. While story details remain under wraps, the filmmakers’ distinctive voice and tonal ambition are already clear. “This is a story we’ve been working on for a long time, one very meaningful to our roots, and we’re excited to see it finally take shape,” says C. LeBoeuf.
The team was selected as the next recipients of this notable filmmaking fellowship based on their combined talent, distinct creative vision, and industry reach. The producer, Rachel Alterman, attended the American Film Institute after UNLV as a Producing Fellow. She then worked on BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017) as an assistant to the producers and now serves as Director of Development of Feature Films at Alcon Entertainment.
After graduating UNLV, the co-writer/directors, Ryan and Cody LeBoeuf, went on to edit and act in VIENA AND THE FANTOMES (2020) starring Dakota Fanning, Zoë Kravitz, and Jeremy Allen White. They then made their horror-comedy anthology, THE HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR, a love letter to New Orleans exploring different subgenres of horror. It premiered at Screamfest NOLA in 2023.
“As the UNLV Department of Film continues to expand its national profile, the program is reimagining what its flagship Filmmaker Vision Lab can be. With that focus, UNLV Film is thrilled to welcome Ryan, Cody, and Rachel back to lead a new, team-based edition of the lab, which is the first time the program has been built around a creative unit rather than a single fellow,” says Professor Adam Paul - program lead of the Filmmaker Vision Lab.
The UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab is a program that brings emerging filmmakers of note to campus for an intensive, semester-embedded experience. Fellows work closely with students to walk them through the process of producing a proof-of-concept. In doing so, students will gain hands-on experience and insight into the creative, technical, and logistical aspects of bringing a project like this to life. “As former students of UNLV Film, being part of their new iteration of the Filmmaker Vision Lab is very special to us. We’re excited to work alongside the students through this lab and support the next class of filmmakers to come from the program,” shares Alterman.
Fellow recipients are selected through a vetting process that considers both the creatives’ previous work and their vision for the project they plan to develop. As UNLV Film continues to grow alongside an evolving entertainment industry, the department is bringing industry-focused training to their diverse student population. Through programs like the Filmmaker Vision Lab, the department embeds students and visiting filmmakers in creative collaborations that often extend long beyond the semester. This year’s Lab was intentionally designed around a collaborative filmmaking team, giving students the opportunity to see firsthand how a creative collaboration works. “Back when we were UNLV students, the three of us worked on short films together, so returning after all these years to make something as a team is a real trip,” states R. LeBoeuf.
The collaboration between UNLV alumni filmmakers and the Filmmaker Vision Lab is designed to elevate the UNLV Department of Film’s national profile, inspire prospective students, and draw industry attention and support. By engaging current students and showcasing high-caliber work, the partnership reinforces filmmaking as a viable and dynamic career path while building momentum for the department’s continued growth. “Ryan, Cody, and Rachel represent an inspiring model of a creative synergy and dynamic leadership that we aim to cultivate as our program evolves,” says Dr. Heather Addison, Chair of the UNLV Department of Film. “Their return to campus in these new roles is a pivotal moment for our academic unit, as they bring a rare combination of vision, collaborative spirit, and professional experience that reflects the future of the department.”
The proof-of-concept will move through pre-production, a four-day shoot, and post-production during the Spring 2026 semester alongside current UNLV Film students, faculty, fellow alumni, and industry professionals.
Interviews with Ryan LeBoeuf, Cody LeBoeuf, Rachel Alterman, Professor Adam Paul, Dr. Heather Addison, and/or any other UNLV Department of Film faculty and staff are available upon request.
About UNLV Film
UNLV Film is an official department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs that blend current industry practices with traditional storytelling, film history, and real-world experience led by professionals in the industry. The department proudly prepares students by building a strong foundation for careers in the dynamic worlds of film, television, and digital media.
For more information on UNLV Film, visit the film department page.
About the UNLV College of Fine Arts
The College of Fine Arts educates, empowers, and engages creative people to become visionary change-makers in the arts through acts of imagination. At UNLV we believe the arts are an essential good for society. We make education relevant and accessible through our programs and outreach. We create new knowledge in the arts. We celebrate independent thought and the power of bringing people together to foster creativity.
