Las Vegas Weekly

See some Dam fine movies

The Painter of Skies, showcased in Animation: Fantastic Stories

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Now in its sixth year, the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City has become not just one of the top film festivals in the Las Vegas area, but also one of the premier short-film festivals in the country. Although this year's festival has been scaled back from four days to three, the event will still showcase more than 100 short films from around the country, broken up into themed blocks of around 90 minutes each. A few highlights to check out if you're looking to explore the world of short films:

Showcase B: Nevada Filmmakers (February 12, 9 p.m.) The DSFF has a long history of supporting local filmmakers, and this program always offers a great opportunity to check out new homegrown talent. Locals who got their start at the DSFF have gone on to place films in CineVegas and Sundance.

Animation: Fantastic Stories (February 13, 10:30 a.m.) Short films are the perfect showcase for animation, and this program illustrates the range of the form, with a variety of styles (CGI, hand-drawn, stop-motion) and subject matter, from the whimsical to the surreal.

Drama C: Good Hang, Hot Topics (February 11, 5:15 p.m.) This program of four dramatic shorts is geared toward teens, with subjects including online romance, a girl's search for her real father and the perils of drunk driving.

Drama G: International Dreamers (February 12, 4:15 p.m.) Short films from Ireland, Australia, France and the U.K. make up this diverse program, illustrating the vibrancy of the short film around the world, and the global appeal of the DSFF.

Best of the Fest: Award-Winning Films (February 13, 8 p.m.) If you can only make one program during the festival, this is the one to catch; all of the top films will be showcased following the awards ceremony, giving you a chance to see the cream of the DSFF crop.