WORLD-CLASS

TAOS SHORTZ FILM FEST LONG ON TALENT

Taos Shortz Film Fest likes to keep its programming short and sweet.

And they sure like to pack it in.

Over the course of four days, the festival will screen 150 global short films from 33 countries. This is a number pared down from 1,000 submissions.

Of those, 20 are short films from New Mexico filmmakers and those participating in the high school program.

Not to mention that the festival will be the site of five world premieres.

“This festival is truly a global festival,” says Anna Cosentine, executive director. “We pick only the best in short film.”

Taos Shortz’s profile has been rising, and the festival has been lauded for its global programming.

Cosentine says the festival, which began in 2007, has always been allencompassing.

“The word ‘diversity’ has become a current buzzword,” she says. “We bring cultural stories and issues to the forefront with presenting these films.”

This year’s festival also features an entire program of Iranian films, although the filmmakers couldn’t get visas to travel to Taos for the festival.

That speed bump doesn’t deter the festival.

“We’re hoping to have a Skype Q&A with the filmmakers,” she says. “There is also a film coming from Afghanistan, and we’re so excited to have this film in the programming.”

In nine years, Cosentine says the quality of films submitted has increased and it’s due to the leaps that technology has taken.

The festival used to get bins of DVDs submitted, and now all of the submission is done online.

“We’ve become a festival that filmmakers seek out,” she says. “We’ve had some help from the likes of MovieMaker magazine recognizing that we are a noteworthy festival. It just keeps getting better.”

Putting on the festival takes a lot of hard work and long hours, and Cosentine’s staff is extremely small.

She hopes the festival will continue to grow in its popularity and credits its growth to having high-quality films.

“Being able to showcase the films is why we do the festival,” she says. “The part that thrills me is to share the stories and the messages with the public.”

Canadian filmmaker Eva Colmers’ film “2.57K” will be screened at the Taos Shortz Film Fest.

The North American premiere of “The Puppet Master” by Ekaterina Golubeva-Poldi of Russia will happen in Taos.

Iranian filmmaker Hasan Najmabadi’s “Copper Wire” will screen in Taos.

A scene from “Special Delivery” by Greg Ash of the United Kingdom and United States.

A scene from “Venom Therapy” by Steven Murashige. Murashige will be in attendance for his screening.