Albuquerque Film Festival Now Accepting Submissions!

ABQ Film Fest is currently accepting submissions for AFF 2010, which will take place August 26-29, 2010.

"This year we have partnered with film fest submission powerhouse withoutabox.com. If you do not currently have an account with them, please set one up (it’s free) as this will help you streamline the festival submission process.

This year we will host American Auteur Monte Hellman, with a retrospective of his work and several Q&A’s following the screenings. He’s often sighted as an influence by many well known directors and has worked with Jack Nicholson, Roger Corman and Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino has always admired Hellman’s work and originally asked him to direct Reservoir Dogs which Hellman eventually signed on as Executive Producer. Long revered in Europe, Hellman is rumored to be up for an award of his latest film “Road to Nowhere” (which he shot using the Canon 5D Mark II) at the Venice Film Festival but we will have him here in Albuquerque first.

Michael Weise, of MWP, the leading publisher of film related books will also be at the festival conducting film workshops with some of his leading authors. We will also hold a Filmmaker’s Boot Camp to cover the nuts and bolts approach to understanding how to use the latest technology to make your film even if you don’t have that millionaire uncle waiting to invest.

Graham Elwood of ComdeyFilmNerds.com will host live podcasts from AFF. With a host of comedian friends and filmmakers, you never know who might so up. Graham came to Albuquerque this past October with comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me) to a packed UNM auditorium. Graham and friends will also host this year’s award ceremony to be held at official hotel sponsor Hotel Andaluz.

We are working hard to bring you an incredible film festival this August 25-29, 2010 with screenings held at the Kimo, Guild, Lobo and several other spots along historic Route 66. Stay tuned for further updates and announcements as we take this year’s festival to new heights!"

Narrative Features and Narrative Documentaries:

Early Deadline: May 31. Fee = $30
Regular Deadline: June 30. Fee = $40
Late Deadline: July 15. Fee = $50

Short Features and Short Documentaries and Other (Music Videos, Spec Commercials, Multimedia)

Early Deadline: May 31. Fee = $15
Regular Deadline: June 30. Fee = $20
Late Deadline: July 15. Fee = $25

Questions? Email our Festival Programmer: program@albuquerquefilmfestival.com

Click here to submit your film.

Santa Fe Film Fest - Movie Madness

by Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico has gone movie crazy in the past few years, what with tax breaks and financial incentives drawing filmmakers from around the globe to shoot their projects here.

But Santa Fe has been stricken with movie madness for at least a decade, since Jon Bowman and a group of dedicated cinephiles started The Santa Fe Film Festival — five days of films, workshops, panel talks and parties, all celebrating the independent cinematic spirit.

The 10th festival kicks off today with a 7 p.m. screening of Everybody's Fine, Kirk Jones' drama about a widower (Robert DeNiro) who journeys cross country to reconnect with his grown children; at the Regal DeVargas theater DeVargas Center. Several other screenings take place at other venues this evening, too, and the festival hosts its usual opening-night parties.

This year's event is a bit scaled down because of financial restraints, and it marks the 10th and final year that Bowman will serve as executive director. He's retiring, to be replaced by festival operations director Karen RedHawk Dallet. Dallet has already announced plans to move next year's festival to October rather than December.

Bowman, found checking out ticket sales at the film festival's box-office headquarters on Old Santa Fe Trail (in the old Fraser's Pharmacy site), said business was healthy and even a tad better than it was this time last year.

A popcorn machine churned out the kernels — an appropriate treat for visitors — as Bowman spoke, and movie posters for various festival entries covered the walls. ("Some of life's greatest journeys begin at the end," reads the tag line for the locally shot Spoken Word poster.) Bowman said the fest usually attracts 5,000 to 7,000 patrons, roughly 15 percent of whom come from out of state.

To read the full article, click here.

Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - Call for Volunteers

The film festival is just over three weeks away and it is time to call on our volunteers. To get first dibs on this year's volunteer positions, find out the movie selection, and show your support for the Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; join us at NYPD pizza downtown next Sunday, the 20th for pizza and volunteer sign up.

Hope to see you there!

Erika-Lee Turner, Donavan Yazzie, Zurii Hall Volunteer Coordinators
Closet Cinema
2009 Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Erika-Lee: 505-550-9685
Donavan: 505-870-9079
email: volunteer@closetcinema.org
web-site: www.closetcinema.org