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Opening Night Film – She Dances
10:00 AM – 11:45 AM | A Photographic Memory – Documentary Features
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Narrative Shorts 1
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Local Shorts 1
3:30 PM – 5:15 PM | Student Shorts
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Guardians of the Galaxy w/Michael Rooker Q&A
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Ghost School – Narrative Features
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Local Shorts 2
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Dokita Musa – Narrative Features
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Child of Dust – Documentary Features
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Guardians of the Galaxy w/Michael Rooker Q&A
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Blame – Documentary Features
12:15 PM – 2:15 PM | Irkalla Gilgamesh’s Dream – Narrative Feature
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Documentary Shorts
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM | Local Shorts 3
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Guardians of the Galaxy w/Michael Rooker Q&A
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Beautiful Pam – Narrative Feature
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Anxiety Club – Documentary Feature
3:15 PM – 5:05 PM | The Snare – Narrative Feature
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Music Videos
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Guardians of the Galaxy w/Michael Rooker Q&A
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | A Conversation with Michael Rooker – Panels & Workshop
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Filmmaker Social – Panels & Workshop
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Hamlet – Panels & Workshop
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Animated Shorts
11:45 PM – 1:45 PM | High School Student Shorts
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Local Documentary Shorts 1
4:00 PM – 5:45 PM | Local Shorts 4
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Rains Over Babel – Narrative Feature
10:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon – Documentary Feature
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Turtle Walker – Narrative Feature
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Local Documentary Shorts 2
3:30 PM – 5:15 PM | Local Shorts 5
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | The Nice Guys w/ Director Shane Black Q&A
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | The Ramba Effect – Documentary Feature
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | International Documentary Shorts
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Donostia – Narrative Feature
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM | Local Shorts 6
6:15 PM – 8:30 PM | The Nice Guys w/ Director Shane Black Q&A
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Screenwriting Panel w/ Ed Stone, Don Foster, Bill True, Lovinder Gill – Panels & Workshop
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | A Conversation with Shane Black – Panels & Workshops
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Financial Literacy & Planning in a Gig Economy – Panels & Workshop
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM | Stunts + Fight Choreography – Panels & Workshop
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Film School to Film Set Panel w/ Julian Alexander – Panels & Workshop
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM | The Quiet Man – Narrative Features
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM | American Hate w/ Q+A – Documentary Features
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | The Cemetery of Cinema – Documentary Feature
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Narrative Shorts 2
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | In Transit – Narrative Feature
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 48 Hour Film Challenge Films
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Femme Frontera Selections
12:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Lepes – Narrative Feature
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Horror Shorts
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 48 Hour Film Challenge Films
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | The Travel Companion – Narrative Feature
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Local Music Videos
1:15 PM – 3:00 PM | LGBTQ+ Shorts
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | New Mexico Heritage Short Film Contest Winners
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Enongo – Documentary Feature
11:45 AM – 1:45 PM | International Shorts
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Local Shorts 7
3:45 PM – 5:30 PM | Las Cruces Public School Film Fest Showcase
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Acting Workshop – Panels & Workshop
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Inside the World of Horror – Panels & Workshop
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Best Shorts
11:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Best NM Film
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Grand Jury
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Best International Film
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Best LGBTQ+
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Audience Choice
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Best Documentary Feature
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Best Narrative Feature
Michael Rooker is an American actor and voice actor. He first rose to prominence for portraying the titular role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), and is best known for starring as Merle Dixon in the AMC series The Walking Dead (2010–2013) and as Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and its sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). He is a recurring collaborator of Guardians of the Galaxy director and co-CEO of DC Studios James Gunn, appearing in all of his films to date including Slither (2006), Super (2010) and The Suicide Squad (2021).
Rooker’s other notable roles include Chick Gandil in Eight Men Out (1988), Frank Bailey in Mississippi Burning (1988), Terry Cruger in Sea of Love (1989), Rowdy Burns in Days of Thunder (1990), Bill Broussard in JFK (1991), Hal Tucker in Cliffhanger (1993), Sherman McMaster in Tombstone (1993), Jared Svenning in Mallrats (1995), Detective Howard Cheney in The Bone Collector (1999), and Buddy in F9 (2021).
Don Foster is a proud graduate of NMSU. He has written for television for over 30 years. He is known for Roseanne, Mike & Molly, Two And A Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory. Don resides in Los Angeles.
Bill True’s debut feature, Runaway, was hailed by critics as “Brilliant” and “Hitchcockian” as it premiered to universal accolades at Tribeca and Toronto. It went on to screen worldwide at Avignon, Woodstock, Vail, Palm Springs, and other top festivals. Bill took the top prize at the Austin Film Festival for his work on Runaway, which was subsequently released by eOne Films. As a screenwriter, Bill has developed feature and television projects with The Film Collective, NBA Entertainment, Warner Horizon Television, Veritas Entertainment, More/Medavoy Productions, eOne Television, and more. He was honored as a Bush Artists Fellowship for writing grant recipient and was selected to participate in the acclaimed Yale Writers Workshop. In addition to his work in Hollywood, Bill is Head of Dramatic Writing at the esteemed Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre. From 2015 to 2024, Bill also served as Department Chair for SSFT. Under Bill’s leadership, SSFT was named one of industry-leading entertainment publication Variety’s “Top Film Schools in North America” in 2023 and 2024, and was also named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “30 Best Film Schools in the US and Canada in 2024.”
Ed Stone graduated from New Mexico State University. After years of writing screenplays that no one would read much less buy, Ed and some friends decided to make their own film. The result was HAPPY, TEXAS, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Miramax Films in what was at the time the largest purchase in Sundance history. (Ed was able to quit his waiter job.) What followed is what some historians would call a career… other historians would call it a run of just stupid, blind, luck, and many historians have simply refused to call Ed at all. Ed has rewritten or contributed material to – STUART LITTLE, STUART LITTLE 2, SCOOBY DOO, SCOOBY DOO 2, HAUNTED MANSION, THE LOONEY TOONS MOVIE, RACING STRIPES, and a comedy porn film a friend made. (Ed has not seen this film but please don’t tell his friend.) GRIFFIN & PHOENIX which Ed Directed and Produced was well received by the 10’s of people who saw it. Ed’s animated script, with Nate Hopper, PAWS OF FURY: THE LEGEND OF HANK, starring Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais and Mel Brooks – was released by Paramount in July of 2022.
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).
He made his directorial debut with the film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in 2005. Black went on to write and direct Iron Man 3 (2013), The Nice Guys (2016), The Predator (2018) and Play Dirty (2025).
Presenter Information Coming Soon
Presenter Information Coming Soon
Sure to be a hit with fans and filmmakers alike! Join us for a moderated conversation with writers and stars from some of your favorite Star Trek shows! Get a unique peek the behind the scenes as panelists discuss creating and writing stories for recent shows like Discovery, Prodigy, and Picard. From there, we’ll talk about how they brought them to life with actors from the shows, who’ve embodied some of the most iconic characters in the Trek universe. A Q&A and photo/autograph opportunity with the writers and actors will follow the panel conversation!
Moderated by writer/producer Bill True
Michelle Hurd recently starred as ‘Raffi’ opposite Patrick Stewart for three seasons on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard. Receiving universal acclaim from critics and fans alike. On the feature side, she starred alongside Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in the global smash Anyone But You. And the independent film Somewhere in Montana with Graham McTavish. On television, Michelle can soon be seen on the fifth and final season of You for Netflix. Other television credits include “Shepherd” on NBC’s hit drama Blindspot, Lethal Weapon, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, the Marvel Universe series Daredevil and Jessica Jones (“DA Samantha Reyes”), and the A&E summer series, The Glades (“Colleen Manus”). Other television credits include: Walking Dead: Dead City, Pose, Hawaii Five-0, Devious Maids, 90210, Witches of East End, How To Get Away With Murder, Bosch, Mysteries of Laura, Pretty Little Liars, Raising Hope, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU (“Det. Jeffries”), Gossip Girl, ER, Bones, According To Jim, Law & Order, Smith, Skin, Leap Years, Charmed, The O.C., Kevin Hill, The Practice and Another World. Film credits include On The End, The Designer, 25 Miles To Normal, Where The Wind Blows, The Plus One opposite Cedric The Entertainer, Kemba, Inheritance, Bad Hair opposite Blair Underwood and Vanessa Williams, Being Frank opposite Jim Gaffigan, Be Afraid, We Don’t Belong Here (alongside Catherine Keener and Maya Rudolph), Search Engines, Within The Dark, Girl Most Likely (with Kristen Wiig), Random Hearts, Personals, Double Parked, Wolf and King of New York. Theater credits include: The Dog in the Manger (Shakespeare Theatre Company), AMI (MCC), Getting Away with Murder (Broadway), The Violet Hour (Off-Broadway), Looking for the Pony (Off-Broadway), and 900 Oneonta (Off-Broadway).
Carlos Cisco film/television writer and TTRPG designer. He’s written episodes for East Los High and Star Trek: Discovery, as well as having a story by credit on The Black Demon. He has tabletop work that appears in Modiphius’s Star Trek Adventures, Haunted Table’s Triangle Agency, MCDM’s Arcadia, Flee Mortals, and Draw Steel, as well as Critical Role’s two new games, Candela Obscura and Daggerheart. He is a graduate of New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute.
Aaron J. Waltke is an Emmy-winning and Annie-nominated screenwriter, author, executive producer and showrunner in Los Angeles. His work includes Star Trek: Prodigy for CBS Studios, Guillermo Del Toro’s Trollhunters and Wizards: Tales of Arcadia, on Netflix, and the theatrical feature film Transformers One with Paramount, among others.
Bonnie is an actress, singer, & VO actor based in Los Angeles who prides herself on being a “professional nerd.” Her VO credits include cartoons, video games, & anime such as: Star Trek Prodigy on Nickelodeon/Netflix (Ship Computer, Gillian, & various other roles); Street Fighter V; Fire Emblem series; Cartoon Network’s Mighty Magiswords; Battlestar Galactica Deadlock; MegaMan 11; and many more. You also might recognize her as Paladin Bonnie from the fantasy show called “The Quest” on ABC! As a singer, Bonnie has performed all over the world and just made her West End debut in London as Holly Genaro in Die Hard the Musical this past December! She is currently cast in a new live action sci-fi series set to shoot later this year and can be heard as the voice of the Evil Queen in a new animated Snow White feature film releasing this summer! Follow her @BonnieBellG on all social media.
Kiley is a Los Angeles-based film and television writer/producer. She was a staff writer and story editor on seasons two and three of Star Trek: Picard. She has also written on an unannounced Netflix animated series and is in development on a feature for Jamie Lee Curtis’ Comet Pictures. Kiley is currently a co-producer on Paramount+’s upcoming series Starfleet Academy.
Award-winning actor, producer, activist, “Actorvist,” and humanitarian Wilson Cruz starred as Dr. Hugh Culber on the Award-winning Paramount+ series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. He appeared on the Netflix series THIRTEEN REASONS WHY and in Hulu’s 2020 GLAAD Award- Winning original animated kids’ series THE BRAVEST KNIGHT. He is also the Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed docuseries called VISIBLE:OUT ON TELEVISION airing on Apple TV+ that investigates the importance of TV as an intimate medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television. Receiving the Emery S. Hetrick Award from the Hetrick- Martin Institute for Outstanding Contributions to LGBTQ Youth, for his role as Rickie Vasquez on the ABC series MY SO CALLED LIFE, Wilson became the first openly Gay actor playing an openly Gay role on series television.