INDY MOVIES
Cruces festival focuses on up-and-coming and female filmmakers
The Borderlands Film Festival in Las Cruces is finding its niche in independent filmmaking. The inaugural festival will open on Tuesday, Oct. 2, and run through Sunday, Oct. 7. “We’re trying to make sure we grow a nice film community here,” says Dave Witt, CEO and executive director of the festival. “Our goal is to champion the great independent filmmaker.”
During the six-day run, the Borderland Film Festival will screen 85 films twice.
During two of the days when programming isn’t going on, each film will be screened again.
“We play all the films in those two days,” he says. “We wanted to do this because there’s so much happening that we wanted to give an option for every visitor to have a chance to see the films.”
The festival’s opening-night film is “Charlie’s Christmas Wish,” which will screen at 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Allen Theaters Telshor 12. It will be followed by a Q&A with attending cast and crew members, including writerdirector Sue Ann Taylor and actors Lyndsey McKeon, Vernon Wells, Toni Hudson and Jay M. Brooks.
The film tells the story of combat veteran John Frost, played by Aiden Turner, who has returned from Afghanistan with a horrible case of posttraumatic stress disorder, only to find that his family is completely wrapped up in Christmas preparations and doesn’t have a lot of time for him.
His only companion is a scruffy little dog, named Charlie, adopted by his son. At first Frost and Charlie don’t get along, but after a series of incidents they begin warming up to each other. It isn’t until a life-or-death situation occurs that Frost realizes the importance Charlie plays, not only in his own recovery, but that of his fellow vets as well.
Witt says the festival is also celebrating women in film.
With “Charlie’s Christmas Wish,” Witt says, the production is a prime example of the festival showcasing female-led or female-driven productions.
“The films that we were showing, 53 percent are female-directed or femaleled,” he says. “To ensure that we got a lot of women filmmakers, we discounted the fee to submit a film. We wanted a good representation of these films, because other film festivals seem to shut them out.”
The festival aims to also showcase up-and-coming filmmakers.
“We want to grab the filmmakers before they get big and sell these filmmakers on returning or bringing their next project to the area,” he says. “We’re trying to take care of the filmmakers throughout the festival.” Witt says seven panels will be offered:
6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 — Filming In The Borderlands Panel will join film commissioners Luis Gutierrez, Drew Mayer-Oaks and Jon Foley as they discuss how to film in the Borderlands and get your foot in the door in the film industry.
Friday, October 5 — At 4 p.m., the New Mexico Film and Rebate Seminar will have representatives of the New Mexico Film Office as they discuss all the different ways filmmakers can take advantage of the New Mexico Tax Credit.
At 6 p.m, the Music Videos And Commercials Panel will have filmmaker Ryan Valdez, Cinematographer/Editor Patrick Lawler, Producer/Writer Scott Bell and Producer Derek Maher as they share their over 20 collective years of experience as producers of commercials, music videos, lifestyles photo spreads and feature films.
Saturday, Oct. 6, at noon, the Women In Film Panel will have moderator Sam “Toni” Muir discus the role of women in the film industry with attending female filmmakers.
At 2 p.m., the Acting In Film Master Class with Jack Betts, who will talk about his six decades as an actor, offering tips and tidbits to help any actor looking to break in to the industry.
At 4 p.m., the Creature Effects Seminar will have Shawn Darling of Gryphon’s Egg Productions as he gives an up-close look at practical makeup effects, creature work, set construction and prop creation.
At 5 p.m., the Rebel Without A Crew Panel will feature Alejandro Montoya Marín and his “crew” as they discuss the most difficult parts about getting started in the film industry, as well as their role
in Robert Rogriguez’ Rebel Without A Crew television series.
Witt says the biggest obstacle has been getting the community on board with the festival.
“They’ve embraced us and 30 sponsors have come on board,” he says. “The community is wonderful here in Las Cruces.”