Taos Shortz Film Festival hits our neighbors to the north April 7 through 10. This annual celebration of all things cinematic and short will feature more than 150 short film from 33 countries around the world. Screenings run Thursday through Sunday from morning (as early as 9am) to night (as late as 11pm). Thursday’s collection of “Global Shortz” ends with an “Opening Nite Pint” at Eske’s Brew Pub (106 Des Georges Place) at 10pm. Things close out on Sunday at 6:22pm with the awards ceremony and a screening of this year’s winning films. In between you get concerts, mixers, a “Drones in Cinema” workshop and even a special programming block concentrating on Persian film. An all-access pass will run you $133. Individual tickets are available for between $5 and $10 per block and can be purchased through brownpapertickets.com. Screenings will take place at the Taos Center for the Arts (133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte). For a complete schedule of films, events and times, go to taosshortz.com.
Reel World: Troop Movement Troop Movement
Celebrating 10 years of military filmmaking, the Alexandria, Va.-based GI Film Fest is hitting the road with its “Cinematic Salute to the Troops.” This special cinematic event will give viewers access to two short films “honoring the warrior spirit.” The films—“Climb” and “The Real Inglorious Bastards”—will be screened alongside special appearances from First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, Gary Sinise, Danny Trejo, Adam Driver and World War II veteran Fred Mayer. Locally, this event will take place Thursday, April 7, at 7pm at Cottonwood Stadium 16 (10000 NW Coors). Tickets are $17.43 general admission or $15.40 for AARP members and are available now through fathomevents.com.
Reel World: Submit! Submit!
This Friday, April 8, is the official deadline for submitting to the Roswell Film Festival. The event takes place May 19-21 at the Galaxy 8 theater in Roswell. Organizers are looking for shorts and features in the following categories: General Entry, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Independent, Documentary and New Mexico-Based Productions. The entry fee is $35 per film. If you can’t get your work together by this Friday, it’s OK. You have until April 18 to make the late deadline (which will set you back $50). You can submit your work though Film Freeway, Festhome and Film Festival Life. For complete entry info, go to roswellfilmfestival.com.
Reel World: Edge Up Edge Up
The Valencia Leading Edge Film Festival (formerly the New Mexico Film Festival) returns to UNM’s Valencia campus in Tomé/Los Lunas April 13 and 14. This sixth annual festival is designed to showcase “the unique diversity and accomplishments of New Mexico’s professional film community and the dynamic creativity students in the Digital Media Arts and Film Technology programs at UNM-Valencia.” This year the festival will be celebrating the recent breakthrough in Cuban/American relations with a couple of films, including the documentary feature One Among Thousands, which follows Santa Fe musician Victor Alvarez on a joyful return to his place of birth, Havana. Alvarez will be present for a Q&A and will offer a special music performance after the film. Jason DeBoer’s locally shot feature-length thriller Dead River will also be screened, alongside shorts like Ann Bromberg’s “Gaby,” Michael Becker’s “Delivery from Earth” and Ryan Turri’s “Charlie Burque.” Events will take place between 10am and 6pm both days at the Student Community Center on the south side of the UNM Valencia Campus (280 La Entrada in Los Lunas). The festival is free and open to the public.
