The Nevada Women’s Film Festival celebrates women's voices in cinema despite facing funding challenges.
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival, which has highlighted films by and about women for ten years, is facing significant cuts after losing a major funding source. Following the cessation of a crucial grant from Nevada Humanities, which accounted for 75% of its budget, the festival will drastically reduce its programming from over 100 films to 47 and shorten from four days to three. Despite these challenges, the festival is set to take place in a show of resilience against financial obstacles.
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival, which has showcased over 100 films by and about women during its 10 years, is facing drastic programming cuts following the termination of a vital funding source. The festival, founded by Nikki Corda, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, marking a year described as the “most comfortable” in its history. However, in early April 2025, Nevada Humanities announced the end of its five-year general operating support grant, a primary source of funding for the event.
The funding cuts stem from a broader decision made by the previous Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to eliminate grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). NEH officials justified the reductions by stating that the funding was not to be allocated to programs promoting “extreme ideologies based upon race or gender.”
Without this support, which comprised around 75% of Nevada Humanities’ annual budget of $1.5 million, the organization is struggling to offer its usual range of cultural and community programs, including the Nevada Women’s Film Festival. Since 2017, the festival had received over $50,000 from Nevada Humanities to support its operations.
In light of the funding loss, the Nevada Women’s Film Festival will reduce its programming significantly from more than 100 films to approximately 47, and condense the event from four days to three. These changes have a profound impact, especially on the technical crew, who have agreed to accept lower pay in order to continue supporting the festival.
Due to the funding challenges, Nevada Humanities has indefinitely halted its grantmaking program. The organization’s executive director has conveyed the need to prioritize and severely trim the budget while remaining committed to the interests of the community.
In a silver lining amidst these challenges, the Mellon Foundation has allocated $15 million in emergency funds to humanities councils nationwide, with Nevada Humanities guaranteed to receive $200,000. An additional $50,000 from the Foundation is available, contingent on Nevada Humanities securing matching funds through private donations by December 31.
On May 1, a coalition that includes the American Council of Learned Societies initiated legal action against DOGE and NEH, challenging the legality of the funding terminations. Meanwhile, Nevada Humanities is also appealing the NEH funding cuts, although there are concerns about the likelihood of success in that appeal.
Despite the significant funding loss, the 11th annual Nevada Women’s Film Festival remains scheduled to take place from June 19-22. Corda has reaffirmed the festival’s commitment to continue its operations, emphasizing the crucial role that Nevada Humanities played in supporting the festival during its formative years.
Executive director Christina Barr noted that the funding loss has hindered Nevada Humanities’ planned growth, which included the addition of two full-time positions, emphasizing their gratitude for community support during this difficult time.
In a positive note, Positively Arts, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit featured in the festival, recently celebrated its award-winning documentary and received notable recognition from local officials for its contributions in promoting youth through the arts.
As the Nevada Women’s Film Festival navigates these financial challenges, the broader implications of the funding cuts reflect on the vital support that arts and humanities programs provide within the community.
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