On Thursday, the second annual Summer League Film Festival will officially kick off. The three day event will consist of film showings and Q&A’s producers, directors and talent in Strip View Pavilion, right outside of the action in game. Along with that there will be special premieres on each night, starting with Tony Allen: The Grindfather Premiere Party at Zouk on Thursday, on Friday Drazen at Strip View Pavilion and Saturday King’s of Vegas at Strip View Pavilion. 

Tony Allen: The Grindfather – Thursday, July 17 at Zouk Nightclub at 8:00PM 

  • Early Life to Professional Rebirth: The film traces Tony Allen’s journey from his Chicago roots and collegiate stardom at Oklahoma State to his NBA draft selection by the Boston Celtics in 2004, where he developed early defensive chops before reinventing himself as a premier perimeter stopper.
  • Memphis & the Rise of “Grit and Grind”: After joining the Grizzlies in 2010, Allen’s defining moment arrived in a 2011 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was assigned to defend Kevin Durant. Following that performance, Allen declared, “All heart. Grit. Grind.”—birthing the identity of the franchise and his legendary nickname, “the Grindfather”
  • Defensive Legacy: Six-time NBA All‑Defensive Team selectee—three First Team (2012, 2013, 2015) and three Second Team (2011, 2016, 2017)—known for shutting down elite scorers like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
  • Personality & Presence: On-court antics (sprawling to break up plays, towel tosses, timeout photo-bombs) and off-court charm helped solidify his cult hero status in Memphis and beyond

Drazen – Friday, July 18th at Strip View Pavilion at 6:00PM 

Ticket to Summer League gets you in 

  • Title & Premiere: Titled Drazen (internationally), this 100-minute biographical drama premiered on 22 October 2024, marking what would have been Drazen’s 60th birthday, debuting in Šibenik, his hometown, and later in Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, and Spain.
  • Creative Team & Cast: Directed by Danilo Šerbedžija and Ljubo Zdjelarević, screenplay by Ivan Turković Krnjak. Domagoj Nižić portrays adult Drazen, with Tonko Stošić playing his younger self; Romina Tonković stars as his love interest Renata, and Zrinka Cvitešić appears as his mother Biserka

Kings of Vegas – Saturday July 19th in Strip View Pavilion at 7:30PM

“Kings of Vegas” (also titled UNLV: Kings of Vegas) is a four-part documentary chronicling the story of the 1989–1990 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team—arguably one of the most dominant and controversial squads in college hoops history.

  • Player‑Driven Narrative: Every one of the 13 team members—like Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt, Greg Anthony—shares their own recollections of that iconic season, delivered in their authentic voices .
  • Championship Run: The film takes viewers through the Rebels’ impressive NCAA tournament run: defeating Arkansas–Little Rock, Ohio State, Ball State, and Loyola Marymount, then Georgia Tech in the Final Four, culminating in a historic 103–73 beatdown of Duke in the ’90 championship game—a win that cemented their place in history .
  • Lewis vs. Goodie‑Two‑Shoes Rivalry: The narrative highlights the cultural tension between UNLV (“bad boys” from Sin City) and Duke (the “good guys”), touching on race, media narratives, and backlash the Rebels faced .
  • Revealing Controversies: The documentary doesn’t shy away from darker chapters—exploring allegations of illicit payments (pre‑NIL era), grade scandals, NCAA probes, and the team’s infamous late‑night partying reputation .
  • Cultural Footprint: Interwoven voices of Jimmy Kimmel (a UNLV alumnus), Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Kenny Anderson, and more illuminate the Rebels’ impact on basketball, hip‑hop, and style .
  • Coaching Maverick: Coach Jerry Tarkanian’s influence—his recruiting innovation, legal battles with the NCAA, and magnetic personality—is a focal arc that adds depth to the team’s rise .

Following the conclusion of the Summer League Film Festival, NBA Summer League will hold a wrap party at the Hardwood Suites and Ghost Bar at the Palms. The party will serve as a wrap for the second annual event.