New Mexico flavor: Santa Fe International Film Festival continues to highlight state's filmmakers
Eight features. Seventeen short films.
This is the number of New Mexico films that will be showcased at the Santa Fe International Film Festival.
The festival is marking its 15th year and begins Wednesday, Oct. 18, and runs through Oct. 22, in Santa Fe.
According to organizers, the projects were either filmed within the state, or created by a filmmaker from New Mexico. This year there are three New Mexico Short Film Programs, including the New Mexico Short Film Programs 1 and 2, and New Mexico Documentary Shorts.
鈥淐aiti Blues鈥� directed by Justine Harbonnier 鈥� U.S. Premiere
Caiti Lord had always dreamt of being a singer. A born-and-bred New Yorker, her future was sparkling bright 鈥� But today, the only thing that glitters is the snow that falls on the desert. Self-exiled in Madrid, New Mexico, between her day job slinging drinks to tourists and the sleepless festive nights, her life is slipping by. That鈥檚 the story she tells each day on her radio show. How can she find her way back to a place of meaning and self-expression?
鈥淔irst We Bombed New Mexico鈥� directed by Lois Lipman 鈥� World Premiere
A formidable Hispanic cancer survivor bangs on the corridors of power to fight for compensation and an apology for Native and Hispanic communities in New Mexico whose land and water was radiated by the Trinity Bomb 鈥� The story that 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� doesn鈥檛 tell.
鈥淕omeo Bobelu鈥� directed by Jaima Chevalier 鈥� World Premiere
Gomeo鈥檚 life story as a renowned artist battling adversity and discrimination at every turn is curated against the grand backdrop of New Mexico history, painting a portrait of resilience and artistic integrity that lights a path forward on the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People鈥檚 Crisis.
鈥淟ittle Brother鈥� directed by Sheridan O鈥橠onnell, presented by New Mexico True
After his most recent suicide attempt, Pete reluctantly travels back home with his younger brother Jake. As they drive across the American West, the two attempt to reconcile past traumas and forge a new bond.
鈥淭he Pueblo Opera Program: And What Could Be Next鈥� directed by Beverly R. Singer
The film chronicles the 50-year history between the Santa Fe Opera and Pueblo and Tribal Communities of New Mexico, examining how this innovative programming has inspired Pueblo and Tribal youth to engage with opera, including attending Youth Nights at the Opera and performing at the Santa Fe Opera.
鈥淗elen鈥檚 Dead鈥� directed by Asher Levin 鈥� World Premiere
Upon discovering her boyfriend, Adam (Emile Hirsch), is sleeping with her cousin, Helen, Addie shows up at a dinner party to confront Adam and Helen, only to discover Helen is dead and everyone is a suspect. From 鈥渃anceled鈥� lifestyle influencer Leila to an ex-con named Henry (Tyrese Gibson), Addie must make it through an absurdly shocking level of millennial apathy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Only Life After All鈥� directed by Alexandria Bombach
With 40 years of making music as the iconic folk-rock band Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have made their mark as musicians, songwriters, and dedicated activists. They have represented radical self-acceptance to many 鈥� still, Amy and Emily battled misogyny, homophobia, and a harsh cultural climate chastising them for not fitting into a female pop star mold.
鈥淔rybread Face and Me鈥� directed by Billy Luther
Benny is a Native American boy growing up in San Diego. Everything Benny thinks he knows about himself and his family is turned upside down when his parents send him to his Grandma Lorraine鈥檚 sheep ranch in Arizona. There he meets his cousin Dawn 鈥� AKA Frybread Face, a pudgy 11-year-old vagabond, tough-as-nails tomboy. Benny has never met anyone like her, and he is equally intimidated and impressed by her knowledge of Navajo language and tradition.
New Mexico Shorts 1
鈥淩uby鈥檚 Guide to Being Okay鈥� directed by Daniel Pattison.
鈥淔rybread Jesus鈥� directed by Erik Sanchez.
鈥淭he Other V Word鈥� directed by Kristin Goodman.
鈥淟iz鈥� directed by Alec Brown.
鈥淒ear Judith鈥� directed by Mykel Salazar.
鈥淏order Lord鈥� directed by Andrew Pollack.
New Mexico Shorts 2
鈥淏elly Encounters鈥� directed by Amber LeRae Earls.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 Enough Now Thanks鈥� directed by Aquila Chase-Daniel.
鈥淩iver Bank (P艒-Kehgeh)鈥� directed by Charine Pilar Gonzales.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e My Best Friend鈥� directed by Jazmin Vasquez.
鈥淢eow Loses A Button鈥� directed by Melissa Henry.
鈥淣ight Car鈥� directed by Forrest Goodluck.
New Mexico Documentary Shorts
鈥淐arlos鈥檚 World(s)鈥� directed by Michael Walker Barnard.
鈥淐ommunity in Conflict: The Santa Fe Internment Camp Marker鈥� directed by Claudia Katayanagi.
鈥淜enneth Johnson: Speaking Through Metal鈥� directed by Kaela Waldstein.
