Reynolds School of Journalism Associate Dean and Professor of Electronic Media Kari Barber was named the 2024 Nevada Woman Filmmaker of the Year by the Nevada Women’s Film Festival.
Barber, who joined the Reynolds School in 2013, for her body of work as a documentarian, international journalist and educator at the festival in Las Vegas.
“This award meant a lot to me because unlike awards I have won for specific films, this one recognized my teaching and my career as a whole,” said Barber. “On one hand a career achievement award can make you feel old. But on the other hand, it is such an honor to have my work recognized.”
Barber’s documentaries have screened in film festivals around the world. Her feature-length documentary debut, “Struggle & Hope,” was broadcast nationally on public television as part of the America ReFramed series. The film’s world premiere was in Cannes, France at the Festival International du Film Panafricaine. It was chosen for an “Award of Excellence” from the Broadcast Educational Association. Barber has also won several awards for her animated documentary about the death of her own son, entitled “Death and Magic Castles.”
During the festival, Barber spoke on a panel, “Women of the Decade,” featuring other past filmmaker of the year awardees.
“It was the tenth anniversary of the Nevada Women’s Film Festival, so they invited back the previous winners for filmmaker of the year,” said Barber. “It was special to see so many other amazing women who returned to be a part of the night.”
The Nevada Women’s Film Festival also produced by students and faculty at the Reynolds School, including “Interception: Jayne Kennedy American Sportscaster,” directed by Reynolds School Assistant Professor of Video Production Melissa McClinton. Journalism student Zoe Malen’s (’24) film “Love Letter to Life,” which first premiered at the Reynolds School’s documentary film festival in December, received nominations in the Best Short Documentary and Best Student Film categories. The festival also selected the short film “ICON,” which was a collaboration between a group of Reynolds School alumni and students, including Joffea Burgos, Saurabh Chawla, Luke Merlino, Aaron Arao, Edgar Padilla, Jaime Gonzalez, Josie Hester and Brooke Germain.
“Since the early years the festival has been very supportive of our students and their work,” said Barber. “I am always so happy to see our students’ films accepted and it really speaks to the strength and continued growth of our film and media production program.”
