Fans may know Giancarlo Esposito best for his portrayal of drug kingpin Gustavo “Gus” Fring in the critically acclaimed series "Breaking Bad." He won a Critics Choice Award and earned an Emmy nomination for the role in 2012. He again plays the role in "Better Call Saul, which earned him Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2019 and 2020.
At the 2023 Las Cruces International Film Festival, actor Giancarlo Esposito will add another honor to his list. Esposito will receive the LCIFF's "Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Award."
“Giancarlo Esposito is an iconic New Mexico actor known for his historic roles in ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul.’ His outstanding and diverse body of work has brought so much recognition to our great state," said Ross Marks, founder and executive director of the festival. "It is a thrill the Las Cruces International Film Festival can honor him in person. He is the consummate character actor whose values and work ethic reflect Las Cruces. We are beyond ecstatic to have him as the face of the 2023 film festival.”
The eighth annual LCIFF is scheduled for April 12 through 16th in-person at the Allen theatres Cineport. Tickets are available at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
The 2022 event in March was the first LCIFF in-person event since the 2020 pandemic lockdown. More than 10,000 people attended the film festival presented by New Mexico State University and Visit Las Cruces.
Esposito will be on hand to accept the award, screening a film of his at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13 at the Allen Theatres Cineport. Following the film he will host a question-and-answer session with the audience. Esposito will receive his “Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment” award at the "LCIFF VIP Party at the Allen Theatres Cineport, Past recipients of the award include William H Macy, Danny Trejo, Brendan Fraser, George Lopez, Cybill Shepherd, Richard Dreyfuss and Edward James Olmos.
Esposito is involved in several upcoming projects. He will next lead the cast of Netflix’s heist drama series "Kaleidoscope," which debuts in January. Learn more about Esposito.
Marks, who is also a professor in NMSU's Creative Media Institute, has arranged for Esposito to speak to students at NMSU about his long and esteemed career.
The film festival also serves as a classroom for NMSU students in the Creative Media Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences. Film students take a class with Marks and participate in planning the festival. More than 70 students worked with Marks to learn the ropes and then work at the 2022 film festival. See the 2022 winners.
“I teach in the classroom, directing and screenwriting, and then put my students on an actual film set and let them see first-hand how I do it,” Ross said. “The festival is another hands-on opportunity to gain skills they can put on their resume.”
Ticket prices for the LCIFF are $150 for VIP passes, $75 for an All-Access pass, $25 for a day pass and $25 for Giancarlo Esposito's celebrity screening. Tickets are available at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
The 2023 LCIFF collectible poster designed by artist Rush Allen will be revealed during a poster party from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 at the Farm & Ranch Museum. VIP tickets will be on sale for the discounted price $100 at the poster party only. Admission is $25.
For more information, contact Marks at rossm@nmsu.edu, or (575) 646-6149.
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