Film and television star Michael Rooker will receive this year’s Las Cruces International Film Festival “Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment” award during the 11th annual festival April 8-12.
LCIFF, supported by New Mexico State University and Visit Las Cruces, has grown to become the largest film festival in the country run by a university.
Rooker's fame began with his intense role in “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which established him as a character actor nearly 40 years ago. Rooker gained widespread international fame as the beloved, blue-skinned space pirate Yondu Udonta in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” and its sequels as well as his popular role as Merle Dixon in “The Walking Dead.” Since 2019 he is recognized by fans as the face of "NASCAR on NBC" marketing campaigns, a reflection of his role in “Days of Thunder.”
“I have been a fan of his since his breakout role in “Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer,” said Ross Marks, LCIFF executive director and professor at NMSU's Creative Media Institute. “We are ecstatic to honor Michael Rooker at the 2026 film festival. He is an extraordinary actor with incredible range and his is diverse body of work is impressive. Michael (Rooker) is the perfect honoree to celebrate the film festival’s 11th year. It is a thrill the Las Cruces International Film Festival can honor him in person.”
Rooker will receive the award at the LCIFF VIP Party after a special screening of “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience at the Allen Theatres Cineport. Tickets for the celebrity screening of the film are $35. VIP tickets to attend the award ceremony are $200 and are available now at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
Past recipients of the award include Helen Hunt, Ron Perlman, Giancarlo Esposito, William H. Macy, Danny Trejo, Brendan Fraser, George Lopez, Cybill Shepherd, Richard Dreyfuss and Edward James Olmos.
The five-day festival will screen more than 100 films this year, including narrative and documentary features, short films, animation and music videos from 50 different countries. The LCIFF will take place at the Allen Theatres Cineport 10, 700 S. Telshor Blvd. VIP passes are $200, All-Access Passes are $100, Day Passes are $35 and admission to celebrity screenings is $35. Tickets are available now at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
Discounted VIP passes will be on sale for $150 at the upcoming LCIFF Poster Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, where this year’s collectible festival poster designed by artist Asiah Thomas-Mandlman will be revealed. Tickets are available for $30 at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
When Marks founded the festival 11 years ago, he began teaching a class for NMSU students on how to produce a film festival. Since then, every year his students gain valuable experience working with him to produce the LCIFF. The event has drawn crowds of more than 12,000 attendees and more than 80,000 visitors to the region.
-30-
CUTLINE: Left: Michael Rooker is seen here as the blue-skinned space pirate Yondu Udonta in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Right: Rooker’s studio portrait. Rooker is the 2026 Las Cruces International Film Festival "Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Award" recipient. (Courtesy photos)