The Las Cruces International Film Festival and Visit Las Cruces are inviting the public to share their "Las Cruces Stories" in a video competition to promote tourism. The winning videos will have a place at the Las Cruces International Film Festival airing before each film that screens during event next spring.
"This contest is designed to engage the community with the wonderful city that is Las Cruces," said Ross Marks, executive director of the festival and a professor at New Mexico State University's Creative Media Institute. "Las Cruces is a vibrant, supportive, enriching community with so many facets and stories. This contest allows filmmakers to tell those Las Cruces stories and showcase the city. As the premiere film event in town, I am proud the Las Cruces International Film Festival together with Visit Las Cruces can support filmmakers and the city at the same time.”
The Las Cruces International Film Festival is an annual showcase for feature films, short films, animation, celebrities, workshops and more. The event went back in person this spring, attracting more than 10,000 people – the biggest crowd the film festival has ever seen.
For the "Las Cruces Stories" contest, participants maycreate a three to five-minute video, highlighting stories about Las Cruces that make it a great place for tourists to visit. The window to submit videos via FilmFreeway opens Nov. 15. Details and submission guidelines are available online at https://lascrucesfilmfest.com/visitlcstories/ or may be requested via email at vistlcstories@gmail.com.
The winning "Las Cruces Stories" entries will earn $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place along with VIP tickets for the 2023 film festival in addition to showing them at the start of each film screened during the Las Cruces International Film Festival.
“Las Cruces is much more than a place," said Visit Las Cruces Director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez. “It is a destination full of friendly people, bold flavors, a thriving art scene and rugged outdoor adventure, while staying true to its rich history and culture. The 'Las Cruces Stories' contest is meant to capture the spirit of our city and what makes it a place you want to experience. We can’t wait to see what these talented filmmakers create."
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