FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ross Marks
E-Mail: rossm@nmsu.edu
Phone: 575-646-6149
DIRECTOR ROB MINKOFF TO RECEIVE LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL “OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING” AWARD.
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO— On March 4th, 2022, the Las Cruces International Film Festival will honor animation director Rob Minkoff with its prestigious “Outstanding Achievement in Directing” award. Mr. Minkoff will be on hand with his wife Crystal Minkoff to accept the award in Las Cruces. Mr. Minkoff will screen his box-office smash, the highest grossing 2D animated film of all time “The Lion King” at the Allen Theatres Cineport at 7pm on March 4th and host a question-and-answer session with the audience. In the afternoon at 3:30pm, Mr. Minkoff will speak at the Cineport about his long and esteemed career. That evening at the LCIFF VIP Party at the Double Eagle in Mesilla in Las Cruces, Mr. Minkoff will receive his “Outstanding Achievement in Directing” award.
Rob Minkoff is best known for directing the animated blockbuster THE LION KING.
After attending the CalArts Character Animation program, Rob was hired by Walt Disney Feature Animation as an in-between artist for The Black Cauldron. He was then promoted to character designer and supervising animator for THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE. Afterwards he left Disney to design characters for THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER. After returning to Disney he co-wrote the song “Good Company” for OLIVER & CO. Then began work as a character designer for THE LITTLE MERMAID contributing the initial concept for Ursula the Sea Witch. Rob made his directorial debut with two Roger Rabbit shorts TUMMY TROUBLE and ROLLER COASTER RABBIT. The latter of which was made at the recently opened Disney-MGM Studio Tour in Orlando Florida. After returning to Los Angeles, Rob made his live-action directorial debut on a theme park short entitled MICKEY’S AUDITION which featured cameos of Mel Brooks, Angela Lansbury and even Roy Disney Jr. playing his Uncle Walt. Rob began work in 1992 on a film which would go on to break box office records as the most successful 2D animated movie of all time, THE LION KING. After leaving Disney Rob directed STUART LITTLE 1 & 2, THE HAUNTED MANSION, THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, and MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN.
Rob’s current project is BLAZING SAMURAI, an animated re-imagining of Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles. Featuring the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais and Michael Cera, the film is about a dog that trains to become a Samurai in a world of cats.
Rob lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Crystal, and their two children, Max and Zoe.
Ticket prices for LCIFF are as follows:
- VIP Passes – $150.00
- All-Access Pass – $75
- Day Pass – $25
- William H. Macy Celebrity Screening – $25
For more information contact Ross Marks at rossm@nmsu.edu, or (575) 646-6149. We ask that all guests please comply with the current COVID-19 New Mexico Public Health Order and wear a mask or face covering at the event unless eating or drinking in the theatre.
The seventh Las Cruces International Film Festival takes place March 2nd-6th, 2022 and will be live and in-person at the Allen Theatres Cineport. Tickets are available at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
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