A quarter of a century ago, The Santa Fe Film Festival rose from the ashes from one of the original American film festivals to become the longest running mainstream festival in New Mexico. This year we are particularly pleased and proud to feature the return of "The Screen" a jewel of Santa Fe's award winning exhibition community. Festival Director NaNi Rivera noted "So much has changed here in Santa Fe, particularly in film over these 25 years. We came along just as the film incentives were being passed through the State Legislator and implemented. I don't know if even our most enthusiastic supporters (from the origins of NMFilm) could have envisioned two major movie studios and multiple productions being staged in our local town, or being named the best place to shoot in the entire country. We also have more independent movie theater seats per head of population than practically anywhere else nationwide and possibly worldwide. During our history we've been blessed to be able to show the best of local, national and worldwide features, shorts and documentaries."
This years eclectic schedule kicks off today, Wednesday February 19th with a Hutton Broadcasting produced documentary on the Burning of Zozobra fittingly in the historic Scottish Rites Temple within groaning distance of Old Man Gloom himself and continues to venues around town including Paradiso, Center for Progress and Justice and headquartered at The Screen.
The 5 day celebration of all things cinematic, including workshops and panels in Studio C at Garson Studios, brings filmmakers from around the world to join our locals for an inclusive cinematic experience. Filmmakers from 32 countries around the world submitted to the quarter of a century year old film festival, with 80 movies selected from nearly two thousand submissions. Films screening at the festivals silver year come from Peru, China, Mexico Bulgaria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India Canada, Japan, Tanzania, France, Rwanda, Ukraine and a special focus on films from Iran.
Saturday evening The Santa Fe Film Festival celebrates 25 years with an Awards Ceremony at The Screen where filmmakers will receive recognition for best picture, best story, best soundtrack, actor, cinematography and luminaries of the film industry. A special focus on the history of the oldest mainstream film festival in the State of New Mexico and it's relationship with the highly successful film incentives and creation of a thriving local film industry will close out the evening of recognition.
