In this IFP Review, we’re talking about our experience attending the 22nd annual Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada.
We reviewed the festival from the perspective of indie filmmakers who submitted a short film, attended in person, and screened alongside filmmakers from around the world. In 2026, Dam Short Film Festival featured more than 150 short films across 32 blocks over six days, making it a packed and energetic festival experience.
Dam Short Film Festival stood out for its strong films, full audiences, excellent networking opportunities, and a genuinely celebratory atmosphere for filmmakers. The awards ceremony especially went above and beyond, with classic cars, red carpet energy, cheering crowds, and a clear effort to make filmmakers feel seen and appreciated.
We gave the festival a 9/10 overall, with especially high marks for the films, audience, networking and events, awards, and overall value. The only major caveat was theater and tech, since the festival was in a different venue the year we attended, which led to a few sound and playback issues.
In this review, we break down what worked, what indie filmmakers should know before submitting, and why Dam Short Film Festival may be especially worth considering if you have a short film (especially those tricky longer shorts that can be hard to program elsewhere!)
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