Northern Nevada’s film scene is buzzing in a way that is hard to ignore. What once felt like small pockets of independent creators has evolved into a connected community. In recent years, events like the Cordillera International Film Festival (CIFF) have helped bring filmmakers together by offering workshops, screenings, and networking opportunities that continue to strengthen the regional film culture. Most importantly, filmmakers are not just visiting. They are choosing to tell their stories here.
With several new projects premiering this month and others on the way, the region is stepping into a new creative chapter and locals are getting a front-row seat with plenty to look forward to, both on the big screen and behind the scenes.
When Community Creates
One project locals will be hearing more about is “An Anniversary,” a psychological drama built almost entirely by Reno-area filmmakers. Executive producer Sandra Dorst shared that more than 90 percent of the filmmaking team lives here. While this is uncommon in feature filmmaking, it’s a point of pride for the group, which has since formed the new production company Taloha Entertainment.
While the film’s story is set primarily around a lakeside getaway in Graeagle, California, several of the film’s key scenes unfold in Reno and Carson City. And these choices were not just logistical. They were made to support the tone of a story that slowly unravels into something deeply unsettling. Writer and director Stephen George describes it as “a nightmare family vacation where the horror lies in the consequences of an ambivalent family dynamic."
Locals have played a major role in shaping the production. Dorst says Reno crews bring high-level talent and deep familiarity with the region. This strengthens and streamlines each step of the process. Property owners have also offered access to locations that feel authentic on screen. “Projects like ‘An Anniversary’ could not exist without the people of Reno who continue to support and invest in its creative ecosystem,” she says.
The cast and creative team also reflect the project’s growing scope. Television veterans Arianne Zucker and Shawn Christian joined as co-producers. Academy Award winner Philip Bladh of “Sound of Metal” came onboard after a chance encounter at another Reno-based shoot. With fundraising underway, the team aims to move into full production soon.
A Story Years in the Making
Incredible things can happen when a hometown dream finally gets its moment. Actor and director Kristoffer Polaha has long imagined making a film in Reno. Ever since he watched “Pulp Fiction”in Sparks in 1994, he knew he wanted to create independent films outside the studio system. “Reno was always the only place we were going to make this film,” he says.
Co-producer Marc Oakley adds to the nostalgia, sharing that he and Polaha first met in the first grade at Anderson Elementary School. Their decades-long friendship is “woven into the film’s DNA,” making its release especially meaningful.
Set and filmed entirely in Reno, “Mimics” turns the city itself into a supporting character. If you spotted film crews downtown last spring, you may have seen them at work, especially near the Pioneer Center, Shim’s Tavern, or along the Truckee River. Polaha even filmed a moment at his grandmother’s gravesite, which he describes as one of the most personal touches in the movie.
The story follows a struggling performer who accepts an offer he cannot refuse, setting off a chain of consequences. Oakley notes that Reno’s mix of “grit and entertainment culture” naturally fits the tone of the film.
Beyond the narrative, the production has already made a significant local impact. It has contributed more than one million dollars to the regional economy and employed many Reno-based actors and crew members. Polaha describes the local talent as “incredible” and says their work holds up against crews he has collaborated with around the world. He also credits Emily Skyle-Golden for helping connect key resources.
“Mimics” premieres this month at the Pioneer Center on February 11, followed by a nationwide release on February 13. Locals will be among the first to see a film imagined, built, and filmed here.
Nevada Adventures, Captured on Film
Northern Nevada is also stepping into the national spotlight with a new travel series starring world-renowned climber Alex Honnold. His upcoming show, “Get a Little Out There With Alex Honnold,” was filmed entirely in Nevada and premieres this year on the Outside Network.
Instead of extreme climbs, viewers will see Honnold exploring the state in his van, stargazing in Great Basin National Park, mining turquoise in central Nevada, and popping into some of the quirky roadside attractions that give the Silver State its charm. Towns like Baker, Elko, and Ely take the stage, showcasing landscapes and stories viewers do not often see.
Travel Nevada notes that projects like this help broaden the public’s understanding of the state. Rather than focusing on the most famous cities, the series highlights the state’s diversity and lesser-known communities, making a strong case for why Nevada works so well for adventure and lifestyle filmmakers.
Carson City’s Charm on Camera
Just south of Reno, Carson City has quietly become a go-to destination for holiday romances and made-for-TV movies. Its tree-lined downtown, Victorian architecture, and small-town feel have drawn productions like “Feliz NaviDAD,” “Once Upon a Main Street,” and
A Winter’s Charm in Carson City”; all projects that lean into the city’s natural warmth and convenience.
In these films, Carson City often plays itself, with scenes unfolding against historic buildings, storefronts, and popular public gathering spaces that allow the city’s charm to act as its own character.
But Carson City’s cinematic appeal doesn’t stop at holiday cheer. The city has long served as the backdrop for a wide range of stories, most famously, the Krebs-Peterson House on Mountain Street, which appeared in “The Shootist” (1976), starring John Wayne, as well as Clear Creek, which served as an exterior stand-in for Annie Wilke’s house in “Misery” (1990).
The historic V&T Railway, Nevada State Prison, and wide-open sagebrush valleys continue to offer backdrops for Westerns, thrillers, and even dystopian stories. As Jena Esposito of KPS3 explains, the city’s compact geography is a major asset. Crews can move between dramatically different locations in minutes, making filming efficient and cost-effective.
Big Productions in Familiar Places
Alongside the many locally driven projects, Northern Nevada has also supported its share of larger-scale productions. Over the past several months, a feature film titled “My New Friend Jim,” starring Rob Lowe, was filmed throughout Reno, with crews working across multiple neighborhoods and familiar locations, adding to the region’s growing number of higher-profile productions.
Reno has also appeared in other unexpected ways on the small screen. In the Paramount+ series “Knuckles,” our beloved downtown Reno was digitally reimagined using CGI, featuring familiar landmarks such as the Eldorado, Circus Circus, Silver Legacy, and the National Bowling Stadium, which played a key role in the show’s storyline.
Part of the city’s long-standing appeal as a filming location includes notable productions such as “Mission: Impossible” (1996) starring Tom Cruise; “The Da Vinci Code” (2006) with Tom Hanks; and “The Pink Panther” (2006) featuring Steve Martin, to name a few.
What Keeps Filmmakers Coming Back
If you ask filmmakers why they choose Northern Nevada, you will hear the same themes again and again. They mention accessible locations, the ease of production, strong local talent, and a community that genuinely wants their projects to succeed.
With several films and series debuting this month and more in development, the momentum continues to build. Northern Nevada is not just appearing on screen. It is shaping the stories being told.
“Reno was always the only place we were going to make this film."