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Save the date for the film fest

April 14th -18th

2027

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2026

Schedule

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2026

Special Guests

Michael

Rooker

American Actor, best known for his roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad

Steve

Zahn

Opening Night Film, April 8th

2026 was a hit!

Our 2026 Winners

Best New Mexico Film
"In the Absence of Love"Directed By: Vanessa Dabovich & Zeta Shearill
"In the Absence of Love"
Best International Film
"Ebb & Flow"Directed By: Nay Tabbara
"Ebb & Flow"
Best Music Video
"sleeves"Directed By: Liz Liano, Alex Antholzner, Josiah Colbert, Lauren Flores
"sleeves"
Best LGBTQ+ Short
"Not Exactly Strangers"Directed By: Ryan Rox
"Not Exactly Strangers"
Best Student Short
"Woman at the Well"Directed By: Jacob Thomas McCaw
"Woman at the Well"
Best Animated Short
"The BellBoy"Directed By: Sabrina Eliana Teran
"The BellBoy"
Best Documentary Short
"Moving Arts | Setting Hearts Ablaze"Directed By: Zac Cornfield
"Moving Arts | Setting Hearts Ablaze"
Best Local Short
"The Way We Carry Water"Directed By: Makaio Marcos Frazier
"The Way We Carry Water"
Best Narrative Short
"Whiteface"Directed By: Julian Alexander
"Whiteface"
Best Cinematography
"Donostia"Directed By: Daniel Cummings
"Donostia"
Best Screenplay
"The Quiet Man"Directed By: Juan Gonzalez
"The Quiet Man"
Best Documentary Feature
"American Hate"Directed By: Harry M Gantz, Arjun Sethi
"American Hate"
Best Director
"A Reflection of You"Directed By: Enrico Natale
"A Reflection of You"
Audience Choice
"The Way We Carry Water"Directed By: Makaio Marcos Frazier
"The Way We Carry Water"
Grand Jury
"American Hate"Directed By: Harry M Gantz, Arjun Sethi
"American Hate"
Best Narrative Feature
"Lepes"Directed By: Rayell Abad Guangorena
"Lepes"
48 Hour Audience Choice
"Heated Chivalry"Dessert Grain Films
"Heated Chivalry"
48 Hour Grand Jury
"Trial 12"Desert Lens Films
"Trial 12"
48 Hour Second Place
"Looking for Something?"48 Hours Later
"Looking for Something?"

Thank you to our festival's 2026 guests and sponsors

Michael rooker

Steve Zahn

Bruce Davison

The award-worthy actor, now enjoying an over five decade career, has a resume that includes everything from Shakespeare to Seinfeld -- from the villainous Senator on Ozark to the wise judge on Lincoln Lawyer.

Kimberly Beck

Kimberly Beck is a former American actress, model and singer. She is best known for her role as Trish Jarvis in Joseph Zito's Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984). Her other film roles include Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964), Luc Besson's The Big Blue (1988), George T. Miller's Frozen Assets (1992), and Roland Emmerich's Independence Day (1996).

Shane Black

Shane Black is an American screenwriter, film director, and actor, known for his distinctive style of action and action comedy films. He originated the Lethal Weapon franchise, and has also written such films as The Monster Squad (1987), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Last Action Hero (1993), and The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996). As an actor, Black is best known for his role as Hawkins in Predator (1987).

Recent Announcements & Press releases

LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO PRESENT AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO PRESENT AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: The Story of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ WITH LIVE MUSIC AND THE FILM’S PRODUCERS. SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY DON McLEAN. Las Cruces, New Mexico (October 17) — Las Cruces audiences are invited to a special live event at the Rio Grande Theater featuring a screening of the award-winning documentary THE DAY THE

Read More »
September 10, 2026

tune back in 2027!

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Michelle

Hurd

Outstanding Achievement in Drama Recipient

Get Ready for the

48-Hr Film Challenge

March 21-23, 2025

In the 48 Hour Film Challenge, teams have just 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a complete short film. Participants must incorporate given prompts (such as a genre, character, or line of dialogue) and submit their finished film within the time limit. It’s a fast-paced, creative challenge for filmmakers of all levels!

Stay tuned for the location of the kick-off and drop-off!

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THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

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