UNLV's College of Fine Arts will honor Las Vegas Strip mainstays, entertainment luminaries and a beloved late film professor at its 21st annual Hall of Fame gala Tuesday at Wynn Las Vegas.

Dinner and program to be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on April 21

There are a few key items UNLV assistant professor Thomas Bjelic doesn’t leave the house without: his keys, his wallet … and his microphone. A sound designer for more than 30 years, Bjelic has built a career on a lifetime of listening. He’s amassed hundreds of credits while working on blockbuster horror franchises like Saw, BBC sci-fi thrillers like Orphan Black and films for the father of body horror, David Cronenberg.

The Historic Westside has seen a wave of new development projects break ground or open their doors as part of a yearslong effort to revitalize the storied region of Southern Nevada, which has long grappled with racism, disinvestment and discriminatory practices such as redlining. These efforts stretch back nearly a decade, when residents partnered with UNLV architecture students and local and international consultants to identify what the community wanted to see in the Historic Westside.

In a city known for hospitality, it's imperative to create the best atmospheres for dining, and that includes picking the best tunes. That's why a professor and sommelier are teaming up at UNLV to teach an elective course: "The Aesthetics of Music and Wine."

Founded in 2009 by UNLV alumna Kathryn Kruse, Neon Lit began without a name, just as a loose gathering of Master of Fine Arts students reading their work to one another, as Wright describes it. By 2010, the series adopted its moniker, and over the past 16 years it’s expanded beyond the university corridors into a broader civic space, drawing audiences hungry for literary community.

Founded to support fair representation for women in film and elevate historically marginalized voices, the festival continues to grow each year. In addition to film screenings, the event features panel discussions on topics like the state of Nevada’s film industry and the possibilities of generative AI, along with mixers, meetups, and the annual Femmy Awards.

Whether clients are approaching Las Vegas for the first time or the 20th time, they are met by one of the world's most recognizable skylines. The Strip has changed constantly through the decades but retains an unmistakable grip on the imagination thanks to architecture that alternates between chaotic and wondrous, kitsch and classic. 

Architecture student and Mexico City native took home $10,000 scholarship for her digital design

Berenice Chavez, an editor on "Come See Me in the Good Light," credits Las Vegas and an UNLV professor with setting her on the path to an Academy Award nomination

UNLV’s Department of Film is celebrating the success of two alumni whose work has earned nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards. Berenice Chávez, a 2013 UNLV film graduate, served as editor on Come See Me in the Good Light, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Tamiya Nadine, a 2023 UNLV film graduate, served as assistant art director on The Singers, nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.

The festival, organized in partnership with Women in Film Nevada and the UNLV Department of Film, aims to celebrate and support the fair representation of women in film and provide a platform for historically marginalized voices. The event will feature screenings, panels, mixers, and the annual Femmy Awards.