Reel World

Aspiring Mad Men, Take Note

The Albuquerque Film Festival is looking for a commercial, and it wants you to pitch in and make the thing. It’s called “The Hip, Cool, Funny, Strange, Social Change Challenge”—which is really unwieldy, but definitely shows how “hip” and “cool” the festival is. Basically, festival organizers are looking for a 25-second commercial that they can air on Comcast Cable throughout New Mexico and southern Colorado. The deadline for submission is Friday, July 22. One winner will be chosen on Aug. 1. The grand prize package includes two all-access passes to the Albuquerque Film Festival, hotel accommodations throughout the festival (Aug. 18 through 21) and, of course, the honor of having your commercial air on TV.

Submission Time

Filmmakers, don’t forget that Friday, July 15, is the deadline to get your work into the third annual Santa Fe Independent Film Festival. Sept. 1 is the late deadline, but you’ll have to fork over a lot more dough by then to enter. Right now, submissions will run you $50 for a short film and $75 for a feature. Student submissions cost a few bucks less. Organizers are looking for “art films, innovative and experimental work.” Basically, anything so long as it was completed without funding from a major studio. The festival takes place Oct. 19 through 22.

Warm and Fuzzy

Third Star Films, maker of Romeo & Juliet vs. The Living Dead and Chase the Slut, has completed work on its new horror short “Plush.” The film—think 1967’s Wait Until Dark crossed with a murderous teddy bear—is directed by Ryan Denmark and stars local actors Jason Witter, Vanessa Claire Stewart, Merritt Glover and Brian Lucero. The trailer has just gone up on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. “Plush” is scheduled to premiere Labor Day weekend at the famed Dragon*Con Independent Film Festival in Atlanta. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on a local screening, but you can follow the film’s progress on Facebook.