For the love of film: A student experience

By Alex Brinkley

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The smell of popcorn filled the noses of Las Cruces locals and out-of-towners, as people gathered to celebrate the love of film, as well as the extensive work many New Mexico State University film students have been tirelessly dedicating their time to.

From foreign short films to local documentaries, films of every genre hit the big screen at Cineport 10 for the 11th Annual Las Cruces International Film Fest (LCIFF) April 8-12. Students shared stories, experiences, and gained knowledge to last a lifetime.

As the largest student-run film festival in the nation, students have been spending months preparing and selecting films from hundreds of submissions.

Natalie Streander, the Artistic Programming Director for LCIFF and NMSU film instructor, oversees the selection process and works with a group of students from the Creative Media Institute (CMI) at NMSU to rate and select the films for the festival.

“We get close to 1,000 submissions every year, and we program anywhere from 150-170 films,” Streander said. “We start in the summer, watch films till winter, we select them, and then the festival happens in the spring.”

After months of selection, the chosen films are then prepared to be projected and shared. Stories of magical typewriters, seances and guilty hit men, projected their way into the lives of each attendee. While the experience was an unforgettable one, the students hands on experience is one that will have a lasting impact.

“Over 12,000 people come to this film festival every year, but for the students they are getting first hand experience that they can use in their daily life and hopefully find a great career,” said Vernon King, a Senior Director of Philanthropy for the College of Arts and Sciences at NMSU.

CMI Students have the opportunity to volunteer and work the festival, taking on roles such as theater manager, tech team assistant, event data loader, ticket scanner and more.

Angie Hernandez, a senior in the CMI program at NMSU who is focusing on Digital filmmaking, had the opportunity to work the festival for her film fest prep class with Ross Marks, the founder of the festival.

“I did all these things, I worked with my peers, I got to meet a lot of cool people,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez goes on to say that the festival has taught her many valuable lessons, such as the importance of collaboration, how to make connections and what it is like to take accountability for your job.

Victor Bucio, a sophomore at NMSU who is majoring in digital filmmaking, elaborated on the impact the festival has had on him.

“This is something that I can do right now, and that it is possible,” Bucio said.

After 11 years, the LCIFF continues to grow and will continue to have a lasting impact on the Las Cruces community and the NMSU CMI students involved.

“You are very lucky to have such an absolutely outstanding cool festival blossoming in your own backyard.,” Michael Rooker, an acclaimed actor, said. “You got years to go; it’s gonna get better and better.”

Advice from students involved to fellow CMI students:

“Don’t be afraid to submit your film and have it shown, just do it. It’s an incredible experience to be able to be in the theatre and watch your film from the audience’s eyes and have that collective experience”, Streander said.

“Students take for granted what we get, people are paying to come and meet celebrities, and watch these films, and get the amazing opportunity. So I feel like if you have it as a student and get it for free, use it.” Hernandez said.

Awards:

Best Student Short – Woman at the Wall Directed by Jacob Thomas McCaw

Best Animated Short – The Bell Boy Directed by Sabrina Eliana Teran

Best LGBTQ+ Short – Not Exactly Strangers Directed by Ryan Rox

Best Director – A Reflection of You Directed by Enrico Natale

Best Documentary Short – Moving Arts: Setting Hearts a Blaze Directed by Zac Cornfield

Best NM Film – In the Absence of Love Directed by Vanessa Dabovich and Zeta Shearill

Best International Film – Ebb and Flow Directed by Nay Tabbara

Best Local Short – The Way We Carry Water Directed by Makaio Marcos Frazier

Best Music VIdeo – Sleeves Directed by Liz Liano, Alex Antholzner, Josiah Colbert and Lauren Flores

Best Narrative Short – White Face Directed by Julian Alexander

Best Documentary Feature – American Hate Directed by Harry M Gantz and Arjun Sethi

Best Narrative Feature – Leppes Directed by Rayell Abad Guangorena

Grand Jury – American Hate Directed by Harry M Gantz and Arjun Sethi

Best Screenplay – The Quiet Man Directed by Juan Gonzalez

Best Best Cinematography – Donostia Directed by Daniel Cummings

Audience Choice – The Way We Carry Water Directed by Markaio Marcos Frazier

48 hour Audience Choice – Heated Chivalry by Dessert Grain Films

48 Hour Grand Jury – Trial 12 by Desert Lens Films

48 Hour Second Place – Looking for Something? By 48 Hours Later