Johnny Brenden, owner and President/CEO of the Brenden Theatre Corporation recently announced UNLV student Constanza Castro as the recipient of the Inaugural Johnny Brenden Filmmakers Award.

Following in the tradition of charity started by his grandfather, cinema pioneer once owner of the famed Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Ted Mann, Brenden has established the Johnny Brenden Filmmaker's Award. This generous $25,000 grant enables a film student from UNLV to complete their education with tuition assistance, supplies and equipment and materials to complete their student film project.

"It is my hope this grant will help UNLV continue to attract and nurture outstanding film students," stated Brenden. "We have an outstanding film program and I want to help it become one of the finest in the world. The UNLV Film Program is critically important to our industry and to independent filmmaking throughout the world." Brenden added, "My grandfather Ted Mann had a strong belief in the importance of arts education; this scholarship continues that tradition to the benefit of the students, the Film Department and our local economy."

"The UNLV Film Department has been one of the fortunate beneficiaries of Johnny Brenden's generosity for many years," said Professor Francisco Menendez, chair and professor in the UNLV department of film. "He is an unwavering advocate of independent filmmaking and film education and has been the host sponsor of the CineVegas Film Festival for nearly a decade. The establishment of this award exemplifies his commitment to our community, our students, our education and filmmaking in general."

Constanza Castro, the first recipient of the award, is a junior in the film program at UNLV. She was selected over dozens of aspiring filmmakers based on her outstanding work in the program. Among her accomplishments, Castro received the CineVegas emerging filmmakers award for two consecutive years. She has worked on more than 20 film shorts, many of which have received numerous recognitions. Castro is also the first UNLV Latin female student to produce a feature-length film -- "Liars, Fires and Bears" - while a student.

"Her body of work as a filmmaker and as a producer is quite substantial, and now includes a feature film," expressed UNLV Associate Professor and professional filmmaker David Schmoeller. "And she still has time to complete even more before she graduates."