The 2nd Annual Madrid Film Festival hits the artsy little burg on the other side of the Sandias this weekend. Head on up the Turquoise Trail to the historic Engine House Theater at the Mine Shaft Tavern (2846 State Highway 14) for three days worth of entertainment. Songwriter/performer Joe West and novelist/screenwriter Andrew Wice are your hosts once again. Program 1 features a selection of short comedies, dramas, thrillers and documentaries and takes place Friday, July 26 at 7:30pm. Program 2 adds even more to the mix starting at 7:30pm on Saturday, July 27. Tickets are $15 each night or $25 for both nights (plus a VIP reception). If you can’t make it to the evening events, organizers have added a jam-packed Sunday matinee to this years lineup, featuring all the films from Program 1 and Program 2. That matinee takes place from 11am to 3pm and admission is a bargain at $15. To purchase tickets, or to see a complete lineup of films, go to theaterofdeath.org.
Reel World: Time Is Short Time Is Short
The 48 Hour Film Project returns to Albuquerque this weekend. Between Friday, July 26 and Sunday, July 28, teams of local filmmakers will be given just 48 precious hours to write, cast, shoot, score, edit and premiere their short films. So if you see gangs of crazed people with cameras running around town this weekend, don’t panic. They’re artists. Believe it or not, procrastinators, you can still get in on the action, if you want. You have until Friday to register your team at the “late deadline” rate of $188. And then you too can be part of the high-pressure filmmaking insanity. The winning film from Albuquerque goes on to compete against 48 Hour films from around the world at Filmapalooza 2020. There, the best of the best wins the grand prize and an opportunity to screen at the Cannes Film Festival 2020 Short Film Corner. For more last minute details, go to 48hourfilm.com/albuquerque.
Reel World: Relate To The Rebate Relate To The Rebate
If you are an up-and-coming local filmmaker interested in the State of New Mexico’s film incentive program, the New Mexico Film Office is offering a free class on it this Wednesday, July 31, at their offices in Santa Fe (the Joseph Montoya Building’s Bid Room at 1100 South Saint Francis Drive). These tax rebates aren’t just available to multimillion-dollar Hollywood productions. Micro-budget local productions can also get a portion of the money they spend in New Mexico refunded by the state—so long as you know how. From noon to 1pm, Leslie Fleming-Mitchell from the New Mexico Film Office walks you through the new paperwork and tells you all you need to know to register for the incentive program. Seating is limited, and you do need to register in advance to guarantee a spot. Head to bit.ly/2SqocfF to sign up.
Reel World: Mambo Mouth Mambo Mouth
A reminder that the ABQ Jewish Film Festival closes out this Sunday, July 28, with a screening of the musical documentary The Mamboniks. The film relates the little-known story of the Jewish love affair with Latin music in the 1950s. The film screens at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Bank of America Theatre (1701 Fourth Street SW) starting at 2pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. A reception is scheduled for after the film, featuring Cuban snacks and a cash bar. For more info go to abqjewishfilmfest.com.
