On Thursday, April 9, Reel New Mexico will present a screening of the 1998 film The Hi-Lo Country. This gritty, noirish Western is set in New Mexico cattle country in the aftermath of World War II. The film stars Billy Crudup, Woody Harrelson, Sam Elliott and Patricia Arquette. It is based on the novel by local author Max Evans and was shot entirely in New Mexico. There will be a special invited guest that night, author/journalist Robert Nott who recently co-wrote a book with Evans about noted director Sam Peckinpah. A $5 suggested donation gets you in the door. The event starts at 7pm at La Tienda Performance Space at Eldorado in Santa Fe. Go to reelnewmexico.com for directions.
Reel World: Dirt Simple Dirt Simple
Did you know that 2015 has been declared “International Year of Soils”? It has—according to the UN anyway. And what better way to celebrate than with a special movie screening at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (1801 Mountain NW)? Deborah Koons Garcia (the widow of Jerry Garcia, if that makes it more exciting for you) will be there on Saturday, April 11, from 7 to 9:30pm to screen a film she wrote, produced and directed. Symphony of the Soil is a 103-minute documentary drawing on “ancient knowledge and cutting-edge science” to explain how United States topsoil is degrading in quality and quantity, while cropland is eroding at a pace at least 10 times faster than it takes to replace it. Ms. Koons Garcia is a passionate environmentalist and filmmaker who also directed 2004’s The Future of Food. She will join audiences for a post-film question and discussion period. Admission to this event is $6 general admission, $5 museum members and $4 students. You can purchase tickets in advance at nmnaturalhistory.org.
Reel World: Women + Film Women + Film
This coming Wednesday, April 15, is the final deadline for filmmakers to submit their work for consideration in the 2015 New Mexico Women in Film Fiesta. This is the 10th anniversary of the public film/video festival, and entrants must be or have been a NMWIF member between 2005 and 2015. Submission is open to works of all lengths in the following categories: Documentary, Narrative, Animation, New Media, Experimental, Webisodes or Series, Music Video and Commercial, Corporate or Promotional Video. Late entry fee price is $20 per film. The NMWIF Fiesta screenings will take place July 10 in Las Cruces, July 11 in Albuquerque and July 12 in Santa Fe. For complete entry details, go to nmwif.com.
