The New Mexico State Film Office will host its second Film & Media Education Summit on October 4, 2014, from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque, 1701 4th Street. The mission of this event is to stimulate communication and coordination between New Mexico’s film and media industry and secondary and higher education institutions, thus, establishing a well-defined educational environment that offers cutting edge training for today’s competitive industry. The Film Office invites administrators, educators, guidance counselors and advisors from the secondary and higher education levels to attend.  

“The Summit is a great opportunity for those involved in film & media education to come together and discuss the future of the industry,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico Film Office. “The film & media programs offered here in New Mexico are flourishing and we want to encourage and assist in their continued growth in any way that we can.”  

Summit discussions will focus on the successes and challenges of film & media education in New Mexico, to include topics such as What are the issues and where do we go from here?, Issues in Ownership & Protection, 21st Century Ways of Distributing Student Films and Raising the Bar on Education in Film & Media. A broad range of speakers are scheduled to attend, to include educators from across the State. For a complete schedule and to register for this event, visit nmfilm.com. 

For questions, please contact NMFO Local Outreach Programs Manager, Lindsey Valdez, at 505-476-5671 or lindsey@nmfilm.com. 

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SANTA FE - The New Mexico Film Office (NMFO) announced a call for entries today for the 2015 NM Filmmakers Showcase to be held in Santa Fe at the Jean Cocteau Cinema January 24-25, 2015. The showcase is an annual event featuring a vast range of creative local talent from around the state. There is no charge to submit an entry, and the event is open to the public and free to attend. 
 
The Film Office will begin accepting entries on Friday, September 26, 2014, and will close on Friday, November 21, 2014, at 5:00pm. Entries postmarked after the due date/time will not be considered.
 
"The Filmaker's Showcase supports and assists in the promotion of New Mexico's local film community," said Nick Maniatis, NMFO director This event not only gives local filmmakers the chance to see their work on the big screen, but also gives the general public the opportunity to experience all of the creative talent within the state." 
 
A panel of industry professionals will judge eight categories from Sci-fi/Fantasy to Comedy and Animation. "Best of Category" winners will be screened on Saturday, January 24 with a reception to follow where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the filmmakers and judges. Other entries will be screened on Sunday, January 25 on a first-come-first-served basis by category. The NMFO does not guarantee that all entries will be screened. 
 
Following the showcase, winning films will travel New Mexico throughout the year in collaboration with local film festivals and theaters. 
 
Entry forms are available at nmfilm.com. For further information, contact the NMFO local outreach programs manager, Lindsey Valdez, at lindsey@nmfilm.com or 505-476-5671.

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the television series “The Messengers,” produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Entertainment for The CW will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Albuquerque mid-August through mid-December and will employ at least 300 New Mexico crew members and approximately 3100 local background talent. 

“The Messengers” is executive produced by Trey Callaway (“Revolution,” “CSI: NY”), Basil Iwanyk (“The Town,” “The Expendables” film franchise, “Clash of the Titans” film franchise) and co-executive producers Eoghan O’Donnell (“Teen Wolf”), Kent Kubena (the upcoming “Gods of Egypt,” “Turistas”), Ava Jamshidi and Duane Clark (“CSI:NY”).  

“We are delighted to welcome the TV show ‘The Messengers’ back to Albuquerque,” said Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry.  “Having these 12 episodes filmed here will be incredibly beneficial to our community because of the longer-term, high paying, creative jobs for the crew and the peripheral benefits to local businesses.”

The series stars Shantel VanSanten (“Gang Related,” “One Tree Hill”) as Vera, Jon Fletcher (“City of Dreams”) as Joshua Jr., Sofia Black-D’Elia (“Betrayal,” “Gossip Girl”) as Erin, JD Pardo (“Revolution”) as Raul, Joel Courtney (“Super 8”) as Peter, Anna Diop (“Everybody Hates Chris”) as Rose, Craig Frank (“Mixology”) as Alan, and Diogo Morgado (“Son of God,” “Sol de Inverno”) as The Man.  

In the New Mexico desert, scientist Vera Buckley watches in fascination as a mysterious object plummets to Earth and explodes, sending out a shock wave that briefly stops her heart. But Vera isn't the only one affected: she's instantly connected to six other strangers, who also collapse, only to miraculously come back to life hours later. These strangers will soon discover they have one thing in common; destiny has been thrust upon their shoulders.  And as the Angels of the Apocalypse, with an impressive array of supernatural gifts, they must now work together to rewrite prophecy and prevent the Beginning of the End.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature “Kepler’s Dream,” will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Albuquerque and Santa Fe County at the end of July through the end of August. 

The production will employ at least 60 New Mexico crew members, 9 New Mexico actors and approximately 50 local background talent. 

 “This heartfelt story is one that I have championed from the moment I read the book.  It is an opportunity for me to explore the story of an independent girl facing the hardest summer of her life,” said Director Amy Glazer (“Seducing Charlie Barker,” “Drifting Elegant”). “I’m interested in telling a grown-up's story from an eleven year old’s point of view and I am excited by this ensemble cast.  After coming to Albuquerque for the first time to do research for the screenplay, it became clear to me that New Mexico is an integral character in this story and that I could not shoot the film anywhere else”.

Producer Sedge Thomson states, “We’re delighted to be making ‘Kepler’s Dream’ where the novel is set, It’s not just the beautiful landscape, it’s a second blessing that New Mexico is filled with creative filmmakers including our brilliant and dedicated Albuquerque Line Producer Brent Morris who is a talented wilderness tracker of the New Mexico filmscape.”

“Production is booming in New Mexico and we are thrilled for the jobs and economic growth it brings. This is a testament to our incredible assets: from landscapes, to production facilities and, most of all, our talented cast and crew. We’re focused on continuing to grow this industry,” said Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales.

Starring Isabella Blake-Thomas (“Da Vinci’s Demons,” “Rise of the Guardians”), Holland Taylor (“Truman Show,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Ann”), Sean Patrick Flanery (“Boondock Saints”), Kelly Lynch (“Charlie’s Angels”), David Hunt (“Liz and Dick,” “Dead Pool”) Steven Michael Quezada (“Breaking Bad”) and Kelly Hu (“X-Men 2”).  

Based on the award-winning novel by Juliet Bell, and inspired by her grandmother (a resident of Albuquerque for more than fifty years), “Kepler’s Dream” is a story of a spirited girl discovering through new friendships and the power of one magical book, how to begin to heal her broken family.  

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the Universal Cable Productions television event series “Dig” premiering on USA Network this fall, starring Jason Isaacs (“Awake”) and Anne Heche (“Save Me”) will be partially filmed in New Mexico.

“Albuquerque welcomes USA Network’s upcoming event series ‘Dig’ to our city,” said Gary Oppedahl, Director of the City’s Economic Development Department.  "We're thrilled to be part of the next setting that continues telling the story of this high action adventure drama."

“Dig” stars Isaacs as Peter Connelly, an FBI agent stationed in Jerusalem, who, while investigating a murder uncovers a conspiracy 2,000 years in-the-making. 
 
The series filmed its pilot on location in Jerusalem and given current events has relocated part of its production to Albuquerque to film first unit interiors while it continues to explore international shooting locations for on-location exteriors.

Created and executive produced by Kring and Raff, “Dig” is from Universal Cable Productions and was developed by Keshet, in association with Gail Berman (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) of Tecumseh Productions and Gene Stein (“Deception”).  Keshet’s Avi Nir (“Homeland”), Alon Shtruzman and Karni Ziv also serve as executive producers. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature “Captain Fantastic”, produced by Electric City Entertainment and ShivHans Pictures, will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Mesilla mid-August through the end of August.

“We are pleased to welcome ‘Captain Fantastic’ to New Mexico and even more pleased that they will be spending time in the southern part of our state where I know they'll find excellent crew and a film friendly community waiting to welcome them as well,” said New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis.
The production will employ at least 75 New Mexico crew members, 1 New Mexico actor and approximately 220 local background talent. 

Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima stated, “It’s wonderful to have a film like ‘Captain Fantastic’ choose Las Cruces as a film location. Film production is a great way to promote Las Cruces, create jobs and bring outside dollars to the region, and the City will be stepping up its efforts to recruit more film production to the Las Cruces region.”

Directed by Matt Ross (28 Hotel Rooms) along with Producers Lynette Howell and Jamie Patricof (Big Eyes, The Place Beyond the Pines, Blue Valentine), Shivani Rawat and Nimitt Mankad (Imagine, Trumbo).

Starring Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence, The Road, Lord of the Rings, Eastern Promises) and Frank Langella (Frost Nixon, Robot & Frank, Superman Returns), “Captain Fantastic” is about a passionate father who is so devoted to teaching his six children how to live, be free, and survive in the world that he has moved them deep into the forests of the Pacific Northwest. He spends his days teaching them combat skills, training them like professional athletes, homeschooling them in a rigorous classical education, and introducing them to the beauty of the natural world.  However, when he is forced to leave their self-created paradise and confront the real world, he begins a journey that challenges his unorthodox parenting. 

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature “Bare”, will being principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Albuquerque and Moriarty at the end of July through mid-August.

The production will employ at least thirty five (35) New Mexico crew members and fifteen (15) resident actors and background talent.

“Bare” is produced by Chad Burris (Drunktown’s Finest) and Aleandra Roxo (Mary Marie) and is directed by Natalia Leite (Serrano Shoots Cuba).  

Starring Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later, Need for Speed), Riley Keough (The Runaways, Magic Mike), Chris Zylka (The Amazing Spider-Man, Piranha 3DD) and Rachel Korine (Spring Breakers, Mister Lonely), “Bare” is the story of a young girl living in Nevada who starts a complicated relationship with a female drifter who introduces her to a darker world and forces her to grow.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature “Burning Bodhi”, will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in and around Albuquerque and Bernalillo County mid July through the beginning of August.  

Produced by Albuquerque resident Marshall Bear, and written and directed by University of New Mexico Professor in Practice (Screenwriting) and Albuquerque resident Matthew McDuffie, the production will employ at least thirty (30) New Mexico crew members and three (3) New Mexico actors.  

“This film is about your first dead friend. It’s about grief and laughter and celebrating life, about growing up; whatever that means”, says Matthew McDuffie.

This character-driven film stars an ensemble cast including Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory), Cody Horn (Magic Mike), Landon Liboiron (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars), Meghann Fahy (One Life to Live), Eli Vargas (You, Me and Dupree) and Oscar Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Sideways) Virginia Madsen. 
  
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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature SICARIO, produced by Black Label Media and Thunder Road Pictures, will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Albuquerque, Las Lunas, Corrales, Laguna Pueblo, Bernalillo County and Sandoval County at the end of June through the end of August.

“We are thrilled that Albuquerque will be one of the principal shooting locations for SICARIO.  This production represents jobs for hundreds of hard working New Mexicans, and will also benefit local film-friendly businesses,” said Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry.  

“The locations in New Mexico are everything I imagined when I read the script of SICARIO,” states Director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy, Incendies). Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill and Ed McDonnell, SICARIO will employ approximately 200 New Mexico crew members as well as more than 2,000 resident actors and background talent.

Starring Benicio Del Toro (Snatch, Traffic), Emily Blunt (Looper, The Devil Wears Prada) and Josh Brolin (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, No Country for Old Men), SICARIO is the story of a by-the-book female FBI agent who is assigned to work with two Delta-force operators to take down a Mexican cartel boss, but when they cross the border to Mexico she discovers things are a lot more depraved than she’d expected.  The corruption and violence she witnesses challenges her morality, forcing her to play by a different set of rules.   

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE —New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the feature IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE, produced by Blumhouse Productions, will begin principal photography in New Mexico.  Production will take place in Santa Fe at the end of June through the end of July.

“Santa Fe is very excited to welcome IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE.  More than one-hundred people will be employed on this production which is more good news for this film friendly state,” said City of Santa Fe Mayor Javier M. Gonzales. 

Directed by Ti West (The House of the Devil, V/H/S, The Innkeepers) and produced by Jason Blum (The Purge, Insidious, Paranormal Activity), Jacob Jaffke (Sleepwalk with Me, The Sacrament) and Peter Phok (The House of the Devil, Stake Land), IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE, will employ approximately 96 New Mexico crew members as well as 20 resident actors and background talent.

Starring Ethan Hawke (Good Kill, Gattaca, Training Day) and John Travolta (Pulp Fiction, Grease, Face/Off), IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE is a story of a drifter with nothing to lose who seeks revenge on the thugs who killed his best friend.
 
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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com