LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Las Cruces International Film Festival returned for its 10th year this past weekend, April 9-13, at both the Allen Theaters Cineport 10 and the Rio Grande Theater. Those who went to the festival had the opportunity to see 162 movies from 40 different countries. Many special guests were in attendance, including Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt, Michelle Hurd and Cyrus Nowrasteh.
This event is the largest university-run film festival in the United States. A big reason for its success is Ross Marks, who is the executive director and founder of the festival. Marks is also a film professor at New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute. The festival has grown in popularity throughout the years, which has led to improved attendance.
“Year one, we had about 1,500 people. This year looks like it’s gonna be pretty close to 12,000,” Marks said. “This year looks like it’s about almost 40% more than last year.”
A 48-Hour Film Challenge was included at the festival, and it featured many interesting requirements. Students had just two full days to write, shoot and edit a short film. This can lead to stress, but it gives students the opportunity to work on their skills in a short period of time.
“Everybody gets the same line of dialogue and they have to have that same line of dialogue in all the films,” Marks said. “They have to have a prop, so everyone has to use that same prop.”
The film Boomanji won the 48-Hour Audience Choice Award. The Idol was the film that won the Grand Jury.
Many NMSU students made an appearance at the event, including Creative Media major Eric Posselt. Posselt helped work behind the scenes for a number of films for the festival.
“I really enjoyed it,” Posselt said. “Because I have been able to help with films in the past, I have a better understanding of the work it takes to make a film. I was fortunate enough to volunteer behind the scenes as a staff member for the film festival and work on the projectors for the films.”
Posselt had multiple favorite moments during his experience, but one in particular sticks out.
“My favorite part was meeting new filmmakers who are as passionate as I am about making films,” Posselt said.
The festival included a variety of films, including ones filmed in New Mexico, ones filmed internationally, documentaries and much more. This event once again proved to be a success and has shown no signs of slowing down.
Awards:
Best New Mexico Film: Wherever That May Be (Directed by E.N. Cole)
Best International Film: Tall Dark and Handsome (Directed by Sam Baron)
Best Music Video: Forbidden Fruit (Directed by Ramon Alqueza Jr)
Best LGBTQ+ Film: Hidden Flora (Directed by Ryan Rox)
Best Student Film: Star Crossed (Directed by Georgia Townsend)
Best Cinematography: Somewhere in Montana (Directed by Brandon Smith)
Best Narrative Short: Death Pays Flora a Visit (Directed by Tanna Frederick)
Best Documentary Short: Forward (Directed by Palmer Morse)
Best Animated Short: Under the Thicket (Directed by Caleb Worcester)
Best Screenplay: The Unexpecteds (Directed by Alejandro Montoya Marin)
Best Documentary Feature: 100 Years of Zozobra (Directed by Hutton Films)
Best Director: Ugly Little Monkey’s (Directed by David E. Valdez and Enrique Castillo)
Audience Choice: “3” (Directed by Peter Ney)
Grand Jury: “3” (Directed by Peter Ney)
Best Narrative Feature: Hidden Flora (Directed by Ryan Rox)
48-Hour Film Challenge Awards Winners: Grand Jury (“The Idol” Bingus Films), Audience Choice (“Boomanji” RUN Productions)
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