OUR MISSION

To seek out original, unusual, and entertaining short films from around the world and make them available to the general public via the annual Dam Short Film Festival.

FESTIVAL HISTORY

lee and anita

The Dam Short Film Festival, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Lee and Anita Lanier co-founded the festival in 2003 after falling in love with short films on the film festival circuit. As a professional animator, Lee has screened his own animated films at over 200 festivals worldwide and Anita has been instrumental in the programming of the festival. While Lee and Anita both have stepped down from board responsibilities as of 2023, Lee will continue to assist with press and emcee duties.

At the 2023 19th Annual Dam Short Film Festival Lee and Anita were awarded with the ‘Key to the City” of Boulder City, a well deserved honor for both of them and the festival. Congratulations Lee and Anita!

Today, the Dam Short Film Festival has become a traditional Southern Nevada cultural event that attracts thousands of visitors to Boulder City each February. The festival has welcomed scores of filmmakers from all over the world and has screened several thousand unique independent short films during its history.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ken Cioe -Board Member / Director of Operations

Ken has been part of the festival since year one. He has a B.S. in Film from Emerson College and an MFA in screenwriting from The Academy of Art University. Ken has worked in the film and multimedia industries for almost 30 years and in 2019 he assumed the role of DIrector of Operations for the festival. This role allows Ken to work with the board on maintaining and growing the festival, while still having the opportunity to work with young local talent such as animators, film students and graphic artists.

Brian Decania -Board Member / Art Director

Brian is a classically trained Artist in Photography and Sculpture, but he also Paints, Writes, Teaches, Draws, Sewes, and Tinkers. He finds himself that enigmatic, creative soul that regardless of the format he must create, collaborate, or help point the way for another creative soul towards that crystal pinnacle of an incandescent light bulb floating above our heads. You may find you don’t care for some of his work.. and that is completely OK with him.

Mat Stowell -Board Member / Director of Operations

Mathew Stowell has been involved with the Dam Short Film Festival since its early days, attending screenings since the festival’s second year and contributing creatively over time. He helped create the festival trailers post 2020, making his recent appointment to the board a natural progression of years-long support and enthusiasm. His creative background includes work in animation and design, using tools like After Effects and hand-drawn illustration to explore visual storytelling.

Suellen Moore -Board Member / Financial Director

Suellen grew up and raised her two kids in Boulder City. She spent over 30 years of her career
as a legal assistant and office manager. Now she runs her own small business offering services
in tax preparation, bookkeeping and personal assistance. She is a classically trained musician
and taught piano and voice for 15 years. Although she is no longer teaching, she continues to
practice her art in creating, composing, recording and producing original music. She is a huge
advocate of all the creative arts and looks forward to contributing and serving on the board of
the Dam Short Film Festival.

Dionne Mitchell -Board Member / Director of Events

Dionne was born and raised in Northern California, moved to Las Vegas in 2002, and has been a proud resident of Boulder City for 4 years. She began with DSFF as the Volunteer Coordinator and is proud to begin her journey in the role of Director of Events. Dionne enjoys all forms of art to include Movies, Short Films, Theater, Music, and Painting. Dionne spends her free time reading, exercising, and spending time with her 2 grown sons, and a teenage daughter. She has been very blessed to be a part of the Dam Short Film Festival and treasures the new friends she has made and looks forward to meeting many more!

John J. MurphyTechnical / Exhibition Film Manager

John Murphy comes to the Dam Short Film Festival Society as a lover of the art of film, film making, storytelling and all technical aspects that convey a feeling of life, love and the true nature of being and meaning of the actors as they play the charters on the big and little screens. He loves life and lives by the motto “ODOS” One Day One Step at a time.
Quote “Life is a journey, get involved or watch it in other’s films.” And “You never know how much time we really have, so enjoy every minute and explore the world through your activities and others lives on film!”

ADVISORY BOARD

Adam Jones -Advisory Board Member

California native and graduate of UCLA, Adam brings 12 years of film industry experience to the Cinematic Arts Program. He is an avid enthusiast of all things artistic – movies, music, and literature in particular. He loves teaching and sharing his industry knowledge to inspire his students. He also enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, baseball, skiing, swimming, and playing the piano.

Curtis Perry -Advisory Board Member

Born and Raised in Omaha, NE but has been in Vegas since 2004. I have a B.S. of Science in Media Art and Animation. During the early years I volunteered and assisted the DFSS. I am glad to be able to help out again. I currently work as the Quality Superintendent for a commercial construction company helping shape the Vegas area for over 15 years. When not working I spend time with my family and enjoy all things regarding film and animation.

STAFF

Anne Camille -Graphic Designer

Anne Camille moved from Manila to Las Vegas in 2015 and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Media at UNLV in 2020. Anne has a special interest in illustration and design and would like to be more involved with Nevada communities, especially when it comes to culture and the arts. When she’s not at work, she loves to go thrifting and hang out with her dog.

Amy Vandermark Sponsorship Manager

Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Amy Vandermark has also spent over half her life as a Boulder City resident. Amy is avidly involved in the community and owns a Social Media Management company, Amy Vandermarketing. Her marketing background encompasses Media Relations, Community Engagement, Digital Presence, Promotions, and Advertising. It is with immense gratitude and humility that she will be joining this organization starting in 2023, and she is enthusiastic for the relationships that will be forged and the work that will be done in the coming years.

Calvin Crawford Filmmaker Concierge

Calvin Crawford is a passionate storyteller, film lover, and writer. He loves musicals, puppets, and elaborate costumes, and hopes to one day produce a film encompassing all of the above. He resides in Las Vegas with his Chow-Husky mix named after his favorite Mogwai: Gizmo. This will be his very first Dam Short Film Festival.

Hope Blatchford - Social Media Coordinator

Hope was born and raised in Boulder City, NV up until 2020 where she graduated from
Boulder City High School and attended University of Nevada, Reno obtaining her
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing with honors distinction in
May 2024. During her time at UNR, she held several leadership positions which have
led her to beginning her marketing career in Las Vegas. Hope grew up intrigued with art
and has started her own creative brand called Silver State Studio. Since graduating
college, Hope has been pursuing some graphic design at UNLV, growing her art brand,
and soul searching for future wants and needs. In her spare time, Hope enjoys crafts,
coffee, and playing with her four cats.

Leanne KellerOffice Manager

Leanne has Dual B.A. in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance and Entrepreneurship from California State University, San Bernardino, and has studied Nutrition Sciences at UNLV. As a resident to Boulder City for over 15 years while raising her children, Leanne has worked remote administrative positions and is the Office Coordinator for The Village at Nevada State University. She is an avid volunteer supporting local youth and professional organizations, including serving on the Board for the Boulder City Friends of the Library. She and her kiddos enjoy watching nature documentaries, stop motion animation films, and have a rule to read the book first before seeing the movie!

Syrenity RitterAssistant Volunteer Coordinator

Syrenity, also known as Syn, has been enchanted by animation and film since childhood, drawn to the way stories -short or long- can connect with us in ways words alone cannot. She holds an Associate of Arts from CSN and is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Visual Media at Nevada State University, focusing on 2D and 3D animation.

Though this is her first official role in the animation and art scene, Syrenity has spent years honing her creativity through personal projects; making custom clay figures, collages, cards, graphic design, charcoal drawings, and even designing CD covers as gifts. From music festivals and fashion to thrifting, road trips, collecting dolls, comics, and vinyl records, her curiosity and imagination leave no creative stone unturned. She dreams of seeing the Northern Lights, loves being near the ocean, and finds inspiration in the beauty and wonder of the world around her.

Thrilled to join the Dam Short Film Festival, Syrenity is eager to explore every corner of the festival world, contribute to creative projects, and grow her confidence as a filmmaker. She also treasures her role as a big sister, hoping to inspire her younger siblings and show them that dreams are achievable through passion, dedication, and imagination.

INTERNS

Gia HartIntern

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2021, Gia currently studies at Nevada State University as a Visual Media Major student with a concentration in 3D Animation and a minor in Business. She works with both 2D and 3D Art and has a passion for storytelling and environment design in film/game design. One of her favorite things to do in her free time is to go hiking, enjoying the outdoors and taking in the scenery around her.

Ian Stano Intern

Hi my name is Ian Stano, I’ve had a love for film and video since I was young, but only seriously getting into the industry in the past couple years.

Alexis RiveraIntern

Visual Media Major and Movie lover. I’m always looking to be productive and keep myself busy!!!

WE WISH TO THANK FORMER BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE

Lee Lanier (Co-Founder)
Anita Lanier (Co-Founder)
John LaBonney
Kirk Buckendorf
Francisco “Paco” Virella

Jeneiene Schaffer
Kae Pohe
Leslie Paige
Carol Jefferies
Dave Grimes
Hava Brown

Nicky Collins
Michelle LaBonney
Charlene Brewer
Milan Petrovich
Heather Abel

Ihla Crowley
Art Lynch
Aubrey Oiler
Tsvetelina Stefanova
Keith Holloman

WE ALSO WISH TO THANK FORMER STAFF MEMBERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK

Holly Lay – Tsvetelina Stefanova – Allison Potter – Kathy Pontius – Jen Griffith – Gilda Graham – Shaun Rylee
Dominique Spitzers – Johanna Wingert – Chuck Cruser – Estefania Rodriguez – Stephanie Peck
Keeley Harkins – Li Schieff – Dionne Mitchell – Andrew Iannoccone – Julian Paez Cruz – Adam Gradisher