Stars hit the red carpet Sunday for the 92nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
While filmmakers across the nation celebrate, a non-profit in Reno had a party of its own. Northern Nevada-based nonprofit Cordillera International Film Festival rolled out the red carpet for its Evening at the Oscars event. The celebration was at the Silver Legacy Grand Exposition Hall.
Emily Skyle, the co-founder of Cordillera International Film Festival said, "We celebrate the best in film and the types of films kids are hoping to make when they grow up."
The main purpose of the event was to raise money for the organization's Future Filmmakers Foundation. Future Filmmakers Foundation is an outreach program that in 2019 sponsored 110 kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows to work with volunteer professional film crews, screenwriters and talent.
After writing and starring in their original pieces, kids were able to attend a special Red-Carpet Premiere of their films at Galaxy Theaters with an audience of over 500 – all at zero cost to the children and their families.
"If you're not athletic, you can't be on the field playing football. If you're not a dancer, you won't be the ballerina. But on a film set, every kid gets to feel special." said Skyle.
The organization says it hopes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and put Northern Nevada on the maps.
"Reno can become more of a focus area that can then be brought out to the world, because what is art if it's not shared?" Said Nate Ashley, Cordillera International Film Festival's Associate Programmer.
For more information on the Cordillera International Film Festival you can click here.
(Cordillera International Film Festival contributed to this report.)
