{"id":2359719,"date":"2026-04-05T18:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T18:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2359719"},"modified":"2026-04-05T18:47:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T18:47:15","slug":"sundance-of-southwest-returns-to-las-cruces-for-another-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/sundance-of-southwest-returns-to-las-cruces-for-another-year\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Sundance of Southwest\u2019 returns to Las Cruces for another year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">EL PASO, Texas (<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ktsm.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:KTSM;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;KTSM&quot;}\" class=\"link \">KTSM<\/a>) \u2013 From its early awkward days to now being called the \u201cSundance of the Southwest\u201d by none other than Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser, the Las Cruces International Film Festival is back for its 11th year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/AlRPRE2jE.SzmbUL2uk9fg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/68ff5cb40f4baa83b4c558c1e1c9e33e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/wKycATI4AoP2OxUvKZH51g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/7366f2e12020441f67041d269cb2366b\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Rkld6143egt3zDAf9Bm7ow--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/d467788ddc712906e050a628cf0f28db\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/PmA3e0yD4mhdBtdbBXM7nQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/fc8e5217a5f8c26d732f9c06f8775316\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Photos from last year\u2019s Las Cruces International Film Festival, including a celebrity guest appearance by Helen Hunt. Photos courtesy of NMSU.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The LCIFF \u2013 the brainchild of New Mexico State University film professor and film director Ross Marks \u2013 will be held from Wednesday, April 8 through Sunday, April 12.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This year, more than 1,200 filmmakers submitted entries for consideration into the film festival, which has become one of Southern New Mexico\u2019s largest events of any kind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One hundred and sixty-eight films have been selected to be shown over five days at the film festival, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIf you like movies, you will have a great time,\u201d Marks said. \u201cIf you love movies, it is nirvana. Again, 168 movies over five days.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Steve Zahn\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"540\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/6wOLOgkgMEaE6nsj0xrKuQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyODA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/11452f54a6b56d2369350bfc9561b79e\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Steve Zahn<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Shane Black\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"495\" height=\"719\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/B_usB_0XBj59PvQjMqW8xg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEzOTQ7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/66407730c41e98d17f368aa11e5d9619\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Shane Black<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Michael Rooker. Photo courtesy of NMSU.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"899\" height=\"561\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/s4FabOGaudcso1sHHTKb8g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU5OTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ktsm_articles_153\/57e206b66436077da13830940012d612\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Michael Rooker. Photo courtesy of NMSU.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Most films will be shown at the traditional home of the festival \u2013 the Allen Theatres Cineport at the Mesilla Valley Mall. But this year, the film festival added a second venue \u2013 the historic Fountain Theatre in Old Mesilla.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cLast year was our 10th anniversary, and it was amazing,\u201d said Marks, who is a professor at NMSU in the Creative Media Institute and the executive director and founder of the Las Cruces International Film Festival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cOur attendance was 30 percent higher than it has ever been \u2013 almost 10,000 people over five days last year,\u201d Marks said. \u201cThe challenge is how do you top that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Marks said they have added the Fountain Theatre to keep up with the growing festival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They also will screen movies from 30 different countries this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThat really underscores the \u2018international\u2019 in the Las Cruces International Film Festival,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This year\u2019s celebrity guest lineup may be the best it has ever been \u201cacross the board,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Celebrity guests include Michael Rooker of \u201cGuardians of the Galaxy\u201d fame, Shane Black, who is famous for writing the \u201cLethal Weapon\u201d movies and actors Steve Zahn, Bruce Davison and Kimberly Beck, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This year, the festival will also feature about a dozen panels and workshops including acting, stunt choreography, an inside look at horror movies and financial planning in a gig economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Other highlights include Rooker giving a talk on campus at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 at the ASNMSU Center for the Arts, 1000 E. University Ave., and a conversation with Black at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 10 at the Cineport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the early days, it was hard to get filmmakers to submit movies for entry into the festival and even harder to get celebrity guests, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cEarly on when I started this, we didn\u2019t have a lot of submissions because people didn\u2019t know who we were,\u201d Marks said. \u201cWe really had to work hard to reach out to filmmakers to get them to submit to the festival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cNow that we have been in business for 10 years and have really developed a great reputation for being extremely filmmaker friendly and just being a great festival, the submissions have grown enormously and organically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It was also hard to get celebrity guests in the early days, but that has now changed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the first year, actor Danny Trejo was the only guest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cAnd each year, I would call and email agents, managers and ask for their clients to come,\u201d Marks said. \u201cNinety percent of the time, they would never even return my calls or my email.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now, 11 years in, the festival has gotten a growing list of actors and filmmakers to attend and participate in awards ceremonies, panels and workshops, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThey go back to Hollywood and they tell their agents, \u2018This festival is amazing,\u2019\u201d Marks said. \u201cNow, they actually come to us. Now, they are emailing me and calling me and saying, \u2018Would you bring my client in? We heard you have a great festival.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of the things that makes the Las Cruces International Film Festival stand out above the crowd of other film festivals \u2013 it is run by students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Marks says it is now the largest student-run film festival in the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He teaches two classes where students get real-world experience helping to plan, program and then put on the actual film festival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the fall, he teaches a class called \u201cFilm Festival Prep,\u201d where students actually program the festival. They watch all 1,200-plus submissions and then select the movies that will be shown.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt is an awesome responsibility, but it gives them a real-world experiential learning opportunity,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the spring, he teaches \u201cFilm Festival Production,\u201d where students actually run the festival each year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt has really become an enormous event, but it is still a learning opportunity for students,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThey start the semester and they are nervous and afraid,\u201d Marks said. \u201cThey don\u2019t think they can pull it off. By the end of the festival, they are empowered and confident. It changes lives these five days. They pull off something that is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Marks said that many students who take part come from El Paso and Juarez, giving it a true Borderland feel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He also said that when he started the festival, he wanted it to be a place for independent filmmakers to showcase their talent and work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When he was a young man, Marks attended Robert Redford\u2019s famous Sundance Film Festival, won some awards there and it filled him with confidence to enjoy a successful career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He wanted to create a similar type atmosphere here in Las Cruces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cMy goal when I started teaching, I asked myself what was the most important lesson I ever learned as a young filmmaker,\u201d Marks said. \u201cIt was going to Sundance. That was the biggest opportunity I had.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSo when I started teaching, how do I give my students that? I can\u2019t afford a field trip to Park City for all these students. So let\u2019s do an independent film festival. If I\u2019m doing it for the students, why not with the students?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The LCIFF\u2019s goal is to find emerging filmmakers and give them a voice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe give them a home, great screening facilities, an adoring audience and we celebrate independent film,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Besides showing a bunch of great movies and serving as a real-world film lab for students, the film festival is also part movie convention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This year, over 100 filmmakers are planning to attend, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Las Cruces International Film Festival has become the \u201cmouth piece\u201d for a growing and vibrant film industry in Southern New Mexico, Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI can point to at least 12 films that were shot in Las Cruces that were made by filmmakers who came to the Las Cruces International Film Festival, fell in love with Las Cruces, the community, the crews, the location and then came back and made a movie here,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The film festival has a wide range of ticket options to suit your needs and budget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">These include a $200 VIP ticket that gets you into all screenings, workshops, panels and the VIP afterparties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There is also an all-access pass for $100 that includes everything but the VIP parties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are day passes ($35), individual screening passes ($15) and a student pass ($25).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIf you like really interesting, edgy, indy, artistic films, this is the festival,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lascrucesfilmfest.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Here is a link;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Here is a link&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Here is a link<\/a> to the film festival\u2019s home page.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lascrucesfilmfest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LCIFF_Program2026.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Here is a link;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Here is a link&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Here is a link<\/a> to a downloadable schedule.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lascrucesfilmfest.com\/program\/#info\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Here is a link;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Here is a link&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Here is a link<\/a> to a rundown of the workshops and panels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lascrucesfilmfest.com\/passes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Here is a link;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Here is a link&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Here is a link<\/a> for tickets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ktsm.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) \u2013 From its early awkward days to now being called the \u201cSundance of the Southwest\u201d by none other than Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser, the Las Cruces International Film Festival is back for its 11th year. Photos from last year\u2019s Las Cruces International Film Festival, including a celebrity guest appearance by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2359720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[345000,361897,345098,414522,365165,304789],"class_list":["post-2359719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-international-film-festival","tag-las-cruces","tag-michael-rooker","tag-ross-marks","tag-shane-black","tag-sundance-film-festival"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/\u2018Sundance-of-Southwest-returns-to-Las-Cruces-for-another-year.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2359719"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2359721,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359719\/revisions\/2359721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2359720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2359719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2359719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2359719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}