Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Filmed in Nevada County Grant, a new initiative designed to attract film production, support independent filmmakers, and strengthen Nevada County’s growing creative economy. The grant awards filmmakers up to $20,000 to produce short films or episodic projects that complete at least 50% of principal photography in Nevada County, including Nevada City, Grass Valley, Truckee, and surrounding rural areas.
The call for submissions generated strong national interest, with thirty-seven applications spanning narrative, documentary, animation, comedy, and episodic storytelling. Following multiple rounds of review and in-depth discussion, projects were evaluated by film industry professionals and NCFF festival representatives.
“I wish we could have supported all of the projects submitted,” said Jesse Locks, Executive Director of the Nevada City Film Festival. “The sheer number of exceptional films that could be produced here was staggering and speaks volumes about Nevada County’s potential as a filmmaking destination and a hub for creative talent.”
NCFF selected two standout projects that demonstrated both artistic excellence and a strong connection to place. One project will prominently feature western Nevada County within its narrative, while the second will film on location in Truckee, with pre-production already underway in collaboration with local producers and slated to wrap before spring.
“These projects stood out not only for how deeply their stories connect to the local setting, but also for the originality and clarity of each filmmaker’s vision,” said Jeffrey Clark, Co-Founder of the Nevada City Film Festival. “We are committed to supporting new voices and bold storytelling, and these films embody that spirit.”
Though both projects are considered micro-budget productions – with budgets of $60,000 and $40,000 respectively – their local impact is expected to be noteworthy. Film productions inject thousands of dollars daily into local economies through spending on lodging, catering, equipment rentals, transportation, and professional services. Beyond immediate economic benefits, on-location filmmaking also helps boost tourism through location recognition, supports cultural preservation, and contributes to long-term local infrastructure and workforce development.
Building on NCFF’s 25-year legacy of championing independent filmmakers and excellence in storytelling, the Filmed in Nevada County Grant goes beyond funding. The program strengthens relationships between filmmakers, production companies, local businesses, and audiences, while elevating Nevada County’s profile as a film-friendly region.
In addition to financial support, NCFF will assist grantees with local crew and casting connections, location scouting, film permits, partnerships with local businesses, press and marketing support, distribution guidance, and film festival submissions, ensuring filmmakers are set up for both creative and professional success.
“We are incredibly excited to see where this new grant program will take Nevada County as a whole,” added Locks. “This is just the beginning of a bold new chapter for filmmakers and for our local creative economy.”
About the 2026 Filmed in Nevada County Grant Recipients
Rachel Bain is a writer, director, and audio engineer born in Jinju, South Korea and raised in Overland Park, Kansas. With an undergraduate degree in architectural engineering and various careers prior to pursuing her MFA at UCLA, she blends her technical background with life experience to create work about human emotion, connection, and the pursuit of living. During her time at UCLA, she has been the recipient of the Streisand Sony Fellowship, the Amazon GenAI Fellowship, and the Marty Sklar Entertainment Innovation Fellowship. She has also worked as a reader for the Sundance Institute Labs and currently serves as a teaching assistant for a graduate class in Sound Recording and Editing.
About the Film – Theodolite
While working in the forest, a surveyor spots what he believes to be a woman’s body in the distance. When he is unable to locate it, he becomes increasingly unnerved. As the day unfolds, he senses a spirit pursuing him—disrupting his work, escalating tensions with his supervisor, and forcing him to confront a truth he wasn’t prepared to face.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Nevada City Film Festival and the Filmed in Nevada County team for believing in my film,” said Bain. “Nevada County is a deeply special place in my life, and it felt more than right to set this story here. I’m excited to collaborate with this talented team and to represent this place with care and authenticity.”
Jared Callahan is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated documentary director/producer. He founded and runs People People Media Foundation, a non-profit arts community and production company birthed on a 95-acre farm in the San Francisco East Bay that specializes in unique stories that amplify voices and increase empathy. His work has been released through The New York Times, PBS, GQ Magazine, The Atlantic, ALTER, NoBudge, Short of the Week & Vimeo Staff Picks. His projects have premiered at the best film festivals in the world, including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and over 200 more. Jared served as an Atlanta Film Society’s Filmmakers in Residence, a 2024 Likewise Fellow, a 2025 BendFilm: Basecamp fellow, and has directed four feature documentaries, including Clean Slate. He is currently directing a docuseries focusing on the national conflict over wolves and a feature documentary about beloved children’s author Richard Scarry.
About the film – Catch
In the quiet of winter, a father seeks healing in the hands of a stranger.
“I am thrilled and honored to film this intimate and important true story with the support of the Nevada County community,” said Callahan. “Without this grant, this film would not have been made at the quality it deserves. I’m grateful that the Filmed in Nevada County Grant is truly empowering independent filmmakers to share impactful stories with the world.”
About Nevada City Film Festival
Since 2001, NCFF has brought top independent film, music and comedy, along with attracting thousands of attendees, international filmmakers, and industry guests to the beautiful historic town of Nevada City, California. NCFF has been named “One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals” and “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Submission Fee” by Moviemaker Magazine, and voted the #9 film festival in the USA by 10Best USA Today. www.nevadacityfilmfestival.com