Lucky Seven: Filmmaker's Showcase to feature 7 movies
Nov. 5--Catch one award-winning film or stay for the whole three-hour, seven film fiesta at the free 2009 New Mexico Filmmaker's Showcase, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fountain Theatre, 2469 Calle de Guadalupe, just off the Mesilla Plaza.
The New Mexico Film Office and Mesilla Valley Film Society are co-hosting the annual showcase of winning films honored at a 2009 competition in Albuquerque. Over 70 filmmakers submitted work.
"We are extremely proud of our talented filmmakers and crew in this state and we hope they will continue making wonderful films for all to see. This showcase is one of the ways we can do our part to bring their work to a wider audience," said Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office.
Some of the filmmakers will be on hand to lead discussion after screening of their films.
Here's a synopsis of winning film, which will be shown in this order:
"Preschool's a Bit**," directed by Christopher Boone (14 minutes): An acerbic comedy about the single most important event in a young child's life: getting into preschool.
-- Best Documentary Short Film: "Abraham Lincoln: the One Sided Story," directed by Jessie Weahkee (10 minutes): A documentary about Abraham Lincoln's treatment of Native Americans.
-- Best Documentary Feature Film: "A Sh'mal World" by Michelle Friedline and Laureen Ricks (46 minutes): A quirky social worker smiles patiently during a typical day of
addictions and tantrums; but his patience wanes when he faces a reunion with his estranged son who, just like Sh'mal Ellenberg's clients, lives on the fringes of society.
-- Best Drama Short Film: "In the Wake" by Craig Strong (17 minutes): When Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans, it also drowned the soul of Noe Hebert, a baker whose lifeblood was rooted in every nook of the city. Forcibly evacuated to the dry and rugged landscape of New Mexico, Noe struggles to return to a world that no longer exists.
-- Best "Wildcard" Film: "Vancouver" by Bryan Konefsky (13.5 minutes): A five- part diary inspired by a trip to Vancouver. At the border, a Canadian customs officer accused the filmmaker of smuggling pornography into the country. Ultimately this work is a meditation on paranoia, false perceptions, misguided judgments and a particular brand of "profiling."
"The Sitter" by Kim Liphardt (3.5 minutes): Parents, wanting a night out, will settle for almost any babysitter.
"Price of the American Dream II (Lean Like a Gangster)" by Michael Amundsen, (One hour, 40 minutes): A drama/melodrama about Laura Munoz who has grown considerably older and is now a single mother with four children after the death of her husband Chendo. As a result, Laura moves her family from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in hopes of gaining a better life for herself and family. Things go tragically bad. All soundtrack songs are by NM artists. (adult content).
S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at dmoore@lcsun-news.com
If you go
What: 2009 New Mexico Filmmaker's Showcase
Sponsors: Mesilla Valley Film Society and the New Mexico Film Office
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Fountain Theatre, Mesilla
How much: Free
Info:
-----
To see more of the Las Cruces Sun-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lcsun-news.com.
Copyright (c) 2009, Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
