From time to time we get asked about certain names, phrases, stories, titles – and sometimes we gotta prove or bust some myths!

Modeled after a super fun and accessible film program from the Seattle International Film Festival, the 3-Minute Film Festival is one of Holland’s longest running and favorite programs. The rules have always been simple – make a film, any genre/any topic, shot on whatever you want – fancy camera, go pro, iPhone, whatever – make it 3 minutes or less and turn it in! The first couple years, we screened the films on an old sheet in a back room at West Street Market. We packed the room with folding chairs and milk crates and sat on the floor and watched films that ranged from horror films, to beautifully shot documentaries, silent-style romances, music vids and more. We then leveled up to a legit theater – at the Nevada Museum of Art – and films were shown on a real big screen with real sound and theater seats to boot, all that was missing was the popcorn. These years also saw the addition of amazing partners, our personal favorites – the kids from the Boys and Girls Club, who nailed lego stop motion and claymation narratives that were as surreal and abstract as anything you’d see from a renown Dada artist, and always, without fail, had the best and scariest zombie films. Students from UNR and various high schools submitted films featuring the familiar backdrops of our city; incredible experimental films debuted – playing with light and sound and motion; a killer music video or ski/snowboard/skate video was usually in the mix; and there were always a TON of amazing and original narratives that told full beautiful or absurd or hilarious or tragic stories, all in just a few minutes. Every year we were blown away by the depth, the diversity and range, and the creativity of the submissions. People began to look forward to submissions from their favorite filmmakers year after year – Jesse McCloskey, Kaleb Temple, Em Jiang, Cassidy O’Neal, Tucker Rash, Tosha Palani, to name a few – and were equally excited to check out new voices and perspectives. Let’s not forget the the awards! Each film competed for the coveted Audience Choice Award (as voted on in-person by the audience at the screening), and the Jury Award (as selected in advance by members of the community, Holland, NMA, and KNBP Channel 5) – adding a little friendly competition always ups the energy and the ante. We were sad to take a pause in 2020, but are so thrilled to return 3 Minute in the Fall of 2021. Stay tuned for more details about the festival (they’re coming soon, we promise)! as things are switching up a little bit and some fun surprises are in store. You will have all summer to work on your creations and we cannot wait to see!”