10 Years of PFF: Creating Opportunity Through Art Written by Mira Mahishi

The year 2025 marks ten years of the Pegasus Film Festival (PFF), but where did it all begin? In 2001, Niloo Jalilvand—then a mathematics educator—founded the Film Club at the prestigious Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Under her leadership, students began showcasing their work through a dedicated “Booker T. Film Showcase” block at prominent festivals such as the Deep Ellum Film Festival, AFI, and the Dallas International Film Festival. Recognizing the interest from students outside of Booker T. who also wanted to create films and see them on the big screen, Jalilvand launched the Pegasus Film Festival in 2015. Open to all students across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the festival began with its first screening at The Alamo Drafthouse in the Cedars. By 2020, the Pegasus Film Festival had expanded its reach, accepting submissions from young filmmakers worldwide.

In 2020, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Niloo Jalilvand began to reflect on her future and whether to continue her work beyond the classroom at Booker T. Washington High School—a place that had been like family for over two decades. After 21 years of service, she made the difficult decision to retire from teaching and dedicate herself fully to helping young people navigate their paths to higher education and creative careers. The transition was not easy; it came with many obstacles. But Jalilvand remained determined, continuing to write grants and advocate for students who lacked the access and opportunities many of her former students had. In 2021, she officially launched the Pegasus Media Project as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in collaboration with Christian Vasquez, a Booker T. alumnus and longtime supporter of her vision. This change allowed PFF to reach a larger audience of underrepresented communities in the arts. A significant evolution happened in the same year, when PMP partnered with the Alliance for Media Arts + Culture, and won the MIT Solve Prize for Reimagining Pathways to Employment. A $200,000 seed grant and in-kind investment from Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas led to establishing the Multimedia Pre/Apprenticeship (MAP) as a certified Arts2Work Training Center in Texas. MAP is a program focusing on underrepresented communities to provide them with career opportunities and media arts education. Currently, the PMP team consists of Ryan Blitzer (directing manager), Christopher Martinez (lead youth educator), Marisa Mendoza (communications coordinator), and Madeleine Beck (youth leader).

In 2022 and 2023, PMP was further recognized with many prestigious grants and awards from organizations such as National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Instruments, and more. On top of that, PMP received a two-year grant from Constellations Culture Change Fund & Initiative, which was crucial to their growth as a company. Another part of PMP that is essential to their mission is their programs. They offer many opportunities that allow youth to grow their experience and explore their interests, including MAP, Exhibition of Visions, and many more. Exhibition of Visions is a multi-disciplinary art exhibition that mainly focuses on environmental degradation, LGBTQ+ rights, social & cultural conversations, and racism. Programs like MAP and EoV promote diversity, and create artistic opportunities for everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Today, the Pegasus Film Festival is a student-led commemoration that celebrates community, creativity, and storytelling. It not only provides opportunities for filmmakers in the DFW metroplex, but the entire world. PFF is known for its student involvement, as it offers the Pegasus Film Festival Youth Leaders Internship, where students in high school can help manage the program and take on roles like Producer, Festival Director, and Designer. The internship helps youth gain real-world hands-on experience, while allowing them to develop important skills like budgeting, problem-solving, and collaboration. The festival is three days long and includes an opening ceremony, a college fair with film school recruiters, networking opportunities, and so much more. The Pegasus Film Festival has grown so much over the last 10 years, and will continue to grow and provide one-of-a-kind opportunities for youth for years to come.