The Eighth Annual Santa Fe Film Festival took place Wednesday November 28 - Sunday December 2, 2007.

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THE 2007 MILAGRO AWARD WINNERS ARE:

Best Documentary presented by Kirk Ellis : Kieran Fitzgerald’s BALLAD OF ESEQUIEL HERNANDEZ winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Best Short Presented by Gary Farmer: CROCODILE DREAMING by Australian filmmaker Darlene Johnson winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

 
Best Animation presented by Maura Dhu Studi: : Jay Bolotin’s THE JACKLEG TESTAMENT: PART ONE, JACK AND EVE

Suzanne Pettit Memorial Award for Best Editing presented by Michael Pettit: Hans Vermy for THE REPLACEMENT CHILD.

Tamalewood Studios Award for Best New Mexico Film presented by Val DeVargas: Albuquerque filmmaker Billy Garberina’s NECROVILLE winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Best Southwest presented by Alan Arkin: : OFF THE GRID: LIFE ON THE MESA, Jeremy and Randy Stulberg winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Best Latino presented by Wes Studi:Gabriela Bohm’s THE LONGING: FORGOTTEN JEWS OF SOUTH AMERICA winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Best Independent Spirit presented by Jon Bowman and Stephen Rubin: D.B. Sweeney’s raucous road movie TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Audience Choice presented by Mayor David Coss: JUMP!, Helen Hood Scheer winner of $1,000 software bundle from Entertainment Partners

Best of Fest presented by Aviva: : PERSEPOLIS, co-directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi 

Best Indigenous Film Presented by Francene Blythe: MISS NAVAJO, Billy Luther

Luminaria Awards for Lifetime Acheviment in Film were given to:

John Bailey and Carol Littleton presented by Alan Cumming

Marina Goldavskaya presented by Francesca Ursone

Alanis Obomsawin presented by the Canadian Consulate

Tributee Maverick Award to Alan Cumming presented by Lynn Stalmaster

NM Film Office awarded its 3 Governor's Cup Films

NM Women in Film gave the Sage Award to Shirley MacLaine

2007 FESTIVAL VIDEO CLIPS ►  

KNME CLIPS OF THE 2007 Festival

VIEW SCHEDULE OF FILMS FOR 2007 ►


Download Film Screening Schedule (PDF 511k)


Tickets and PASSES
$300 Films Only and $450 All Festival
Tickets are $10 individual or $75 for a ten pack and are on sale now at 519 Cerrillos Road, across from our host hotel The Hotel Santa Fe.

Our festival submissions are divided into five categories:

-Independent Spirits (American made narrative films, outside the studio system, of any budget, shorts and features)

-Making it Reel (Documentaries, shorts and features)

-Eye on the World (Films of any genre and length made outside the USA)

-Art Matters (Films of any length that celebrate the creative spirit be that about visual art, dance, music, theater, film, etc.)

-Southwest Showcase (Films of any length and genre made in the Southwest region including New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah)

We also showcase Gala Films of buzz titles from major distributors and stage retrospective screenings of works by our four Tributees: Alanis Obomsawin, Marina Goldovskaya, John Bailey, and Carol Littleton and our  Maverick Award Winner Alan Cumming.

8th ANNUAL SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL RAISES INTERNATIONAL DRAW WHILE EMPHASIZING NEW MEXICO AS WELL

Alanis Obomsawin, Marina Goldovskaya, Alan Cumming, CBS, and Heineken join this year’s festival.  NM Film Expo Expands

NOVEMBER 28 – DEC 2, 2007

 (Santa Fe, New Mexico) The Santa Fe Film Festival announces its Eighth Season to take place Wednesday, November 28 – Sunday, December 2, 2007. The five-day extravaganza showcases more than 80 programs encompassing roughly 200 films, shorts and features of all genres, themes and topics. The festival is divided into seven series: Independent Spirits, Making it Reel, Eye on the World, Art Matters, Southwest Showcase and Gala films from the major distributors as well as retrospective titles drawn from the careers of our annual Luminaria Tributees.  Last year, over 7,000 attendees from around the world purchased nearly 21,000 tickets.

Deputy Director, Stephen Rubin says “Our patrons will find the quality of our presentations amidst the backdrop of our beautiful city makes this among the top destination film festivals in the country.  We’ve attracted many new national sponsors including Heineken and CBS and we will continue to attract more as we expand into the future. We are proud to say that this is our strongest slate yet, based on higher quality submissions, more interest from major and international distributors, and more interest in people attending. Thanks to Festivals like ours and the nearly 2,000 world-wide, a whole new quality of films can gain exposure and offer patrons a substantive and original alternative to mainstream theaters.”

 National Geographic has emerged as a major programming partner with the Santa Fe Film Festival and brings the All Roads Film Project, presenting more than 20 films made by indigenous artists from around the globe, more than fifteen of whom will be in attendance at this year’s festival. All Roads will also host a photography exhibit featuring works by four artists, who will also be in attendance, at the CCA. There will be an opening on Wednesday the 18^th at 5:00pm at the CCA. National Geographic and the SFFF will stage a concert with the world-famous Toureg group Tiniwaren at the Lensic Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 30th, 2007, at 7pm.

 "In support of the All Roads Film Project, we travel all over the world to seek out compelling new artists and films, but coming to Santa Fe is always one of the highlights of our year," said Francene Blythe, Director of the All Roads Film Project. "In our three years with the festival, Santa Fe has demonstrated a strong commitment to bringing a diverse range of films and filmmakers to the Santa Fe community -- from the first-time local filmmaker to the seasoned international documentarian. It's those desired alternate perspectives that makes our films interesting to Santa Fe audiences and keeps us returning year after year to showcase the All Roads film, photography and now music programs."

 Also new this year, the Santa Fe Film Festival launches a series in partnership with the New York Jewish Film Festival, part of the Jewish Museum of New York. A quartet of features and documentaries, which were unveiled earlier this year at the NYJFF’s presentation at Lincoln Center in New York, will be shown at the Santa Fe Film Festival, on Tuesday the 27^th and Wednesday the 28 ^th at the Film Center and then again later in the week.  This event is sponsored by Lee and Susan Berk.

 Festival Founder and Executive Director Jon Bowman says, “We are excited about our expanding and new partnerships with National Geographic All Roads, and the New York Jewish Film Festival and others.  These collaborations add new voices and dimensions to our programming.  We are also proud of the expansion of the NM Film Expo, which will feature over 90 films, mostly shorts, which will screen at the Film Center from Friday November 23- November 26 and then the majority of these films will show once again during the main Festival. Our mission to showcase films and present filmmakers to our audiences expands each year with success.”

Luminaria Tributees include documentary filmmakers Marina Goldovskaya and Alanis Obomsawin as well as husband and wife filmmakers John Bailey and Carol Littleton.  John Bailey will be honored for his accomplished work as Director of Photography on such films as THE BIG CHILL, GROUNDHOG DAY and ORDINARY PEOPLE.  Carol Littleton will be recognized as a leading editor in the film industry with nearly 30 films on her resume including ET, SILVERADO, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE and THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, which she collaborated on with her husband, John Bailey.  A Maverick Award will be given to actor/writer/director Alan Cumming of THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY who will be here with his new film SUFFERING MAN'S CHARITY.

 In addition to the films selected from submissions, the Santa Fe Film Festival showcases a collection of Galas from major distributors. In recent years, the festival has provided audiences with a sneak preview of such award-winning titles as BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, MISS POTTER, VOLVER and PANS LABRYNTH.   Galas this year will be at the Lensic, De Vargas, and The Screen.

 We are pleased to return to the Lensic this year with programming Wed- Sun, including films, music, and the Milagro Awards Ceremony. We are also pleased to be returning to the CCA. Other venues which we use each year include: The Film Center, The Jean Cocteau Film Museum, De Vargas, and The Screen and Tipton at the College of Santa Fe. New this year will be the Armory for the Arts and the Kathryn Okeeffe Theater at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

 The educational component of the Festival expands each year, with more panels and labs.  Industry professionals will be coming from across the country to participate in these, including representatives from Pixar, Lucasfilms, Panavision, Kodak, UNM, and Albuquerque Studios among others. Most panels will be at the Unitarian Church. The lab led by world famous poster artist John Alvin, who designed this year’s poster (his first festival poster ever), will be hosted by the Chuck Jones Gallery.

 Veteran actress and Santa Fe local, Ali MacGraw and New Mexican native actor, dancer, and choreographer Raoul Trujillo will host the Santa Fe Film Festival’s Milagro Awards ceremony on Saturday, December 1st at 4PM at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.  Esteemed jurors and celebrity presenters will unveil winning films for the festival’s competitive awards.   Downtown restaurants will provide venues for nightly parties sponsored by the Santa Fe Film Festival and will feature music and entertainment from an impressive group of filmmakers, artists and musicians.

 Expanding the social opportunities of the Festival, CBS and Heineken will co-sponsor a Happy Hour Wed-Fri from 5-7 PM, at Hotel Santa Fe.  CBS will be covering the festival and this year will be the official sponsor of the hospitality suite also at Hotel Santa Fe for filmmakers, sponsors, VIPs and film festival attendees.

 "We are thrilled to be involved in this year's Santa Fe Film Festival," said Andy Glaser, Heineken Brand Director.  "Heineken takes great pride in supporting the creative journey of independent filmmakers; through our Happy Hours, we'll bring together filmmakers, cast members and movie lovers in a celebration of their creativity and vision."

Tickets are on sale now in our new box office at 519 Cerrillos Road, same phone number (505 989 1495) and are $10 for individual admission, $75 for a ten-pack. Festival passes are on sale now for $300 Films Only and $450 All Festival.  All Festival includes Access to daily Heineken / CBS Happy Hour at Hotel Santa Fe, All Nightly Parties and the Reception for the Milagro Awards Ceremony.  For All Information:  www.santafefilmfestival.com

Santa Fe Film Festival Announces the Homecoming

Of our newest star, actress Aviva

(Santa Fe) Coming home to her native Santa Fe with her independent film FORGIVING THE FRANKLINS is one of Hollywood’s hottest young actresses, Aviva, star of SUPERBAD, the Judd Apatow-produced comedy that spent weeks as the No.1 movie at the box office.

Aviva was born in Santa Fe and raised in the city by her parents Aram Farber and Laurie Farber-Condon. While she is enjoying success in Los Angeles, Aviva stays connected to her New Mexican roots, in her own words, "505 por vida!"

Her first film shot in Los Angeles was DOWN IN THE VALLEY, with Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood. Next came FORGIVING THE FRANKLINS, which screened at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Outfest and will now make its New Mexico premiere in Santa Fe, with writer/director Jay Floyd also in attendance.

Aviva is one the female leads in SUPERBAD, still in theaters. Her other recent work includes acting in a short called WAFFLES FOR BREAKFAST, made by Ridley Scott’s production company. She also just completed filming in Berlin in an indie called GUIDES and the 80’s spoof ZEROES filmed in New Orleans.

She began her acting career at a young age doing commercials for Burger King, Toyota and Pringles, as well as a spot, at age 6, for Downey on the importance of recycling. Her first TV movie was THE FIRE NEXT TIME directed by Tom McLoughlin, followed by THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS directed by Terrance Hill.

She is also a dancer, having worked with the Charisma Dance Ensemble, Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet, Something in the Air and Moving People Dance Theatre for teachers including Audrey Derrel, Gisela Genschow, Cathy Roe, Ronn Stewart and Elise Gent. Aviva graduated from Santa Fe High School in three years and moved onto the Oakland Ballet.

She has also done work for television including OUT OF JIMMY’S HEAD for the Cartoon Network (half animation/halfstop action), COLD CASE on CBS- as a killer, MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE on FOX and GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS on A&E,

She co-founded WOMEN WHO ACT, a volunteer group in LA and is involved with lightsoutsf.org (encouraging energy conservation). While working on her career in Hollywood, her “dream is to be a working actress who can live back at home in New Mexico in my Earthship...yes, Earthship- look it up if you aren't familiar, they're
awesome!  Then I wouldn't have to make my Mom ship me chile to LA.”

Aviva will be with Jay Floyd to present FORGIVING THE FRANKLINS, an hysterical comedy about a conservative, God fearing Southern family that is spiritually changed by an auto accident, but who they become puts them at odds with the highly conservative values around them. Aviva will also be the youngest person to present an award at the Milagro Awards ceremony’s history, on December 1 at 4 pm at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

For a nice photo of Aviva and information on the film, go to: www.forgivingthefranklinsmovie.com

For interviews with Aviva, contact Stephen Rubin at press@santafefilmfestival.com

The Santa Fe Film Festival will bestow its Luminaria Award for lifetime achievement to Alanis Obomsawin, a documentary filmmaker whose powerful and uncompromising works address the many conflicts faced by contemporary Native peoples.

 Obomsawin is the first announced Luminaria for this year’s festival, slated to run Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2007, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Additional Luminaria recipients will be unveiled over the coming weeks.

Since launching her film career in the 1960s, Obomsawin has focused on issues of sovereignty, land rights, education, poverty and self-identity as they impact Native communities. She has devoted particular attention to the Abenaki Nation, of which she is a member.

She has completed more than 30 documentaries, working under the auspices of the National Film Board of Canada. In partnership with National Geographic’s All Roads Film Festival, the Santa Fe Film Festival will screen three of her titles

Her latest film, GENE BOY CAME HOME (2007), a short about the hard-luck homecoming of an Abenaki man who joined the Marines and served in Vietnam on a dare.

Her most recent feature, WABAN-AKI: People from Where the Sun Rises (2006), which examines the shrinking population of the Abenaki Nation owing to government policies that disenroll children when one of the parents marries outside the tribe.

And RICHARD CARDINAL: Cry From a Diary of a Métis Child (1986), a disturbing examination of a youthful suicide.

"We are pleased that the Santa Fe Film Festival is honoring our nominee Alanis Obomsawin for this prestigious award," said Francene Blythe, director of the All Roads Film Project. "In the past four decades, Alanis has proven herself to be a creditable and talented filmmaker and a remarkable advocate for indigenous stories everywhere. Through her work, Alanis has brought the tradition, issues and beauty of the First Nation people of Canada to public awareness and in doing so, has made an immeasurable contribution to film and native people worldwide."

A sense of social injustice led Obomsawin to become a filmmaker, but also a desire to preserve the stories, songs and traditions she learned growing up. She was born on Abenaki territory in New Hampshire, but moved with her mother to the Odanak reserve northeast of Montreal, where she lived until was 9. Théophile Panadis, her mother’s cousin, initiated Alanis into the history of the Abenaki Nation and taught her many songs and legends.

Obomsawin first emerged as a singer, writer and storyteller before perfecting her skills as a filmmaker. She also is an engraver and print-maker, who often combines material from her own dreams with animal spirits.

She is the subject of a new book, Alanis Obomsawin: The Vision of a Native Filmmaker, written by Randoph Lewis and published by the University of Nebraska Press.

Among many other honors, she has won the Toronto Women in Film and Television’s (TWIFT) Outstanding Achievement Award in Direction and the Canadian Native Arts Foundation’s National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Now in its eighth year, the Santa Fe Film Festival will screen more than 200 films from around the world, while also recognizing the lifetime contributions of select film artists. For more information on the upcoming festival, visit www.santafefilmfestival.com.

The National Geographic All Roads Film Festival partnered with the Santa Fe Film Festival in 2005 to present its films to the Santa Fe audience. Since then, its partnership has grown to include four full days of All Roads programming, a walk-through photography exhibit featuring the work of the All Roads photographers and the addition of an All Roads award for best indigenous film at the Santa Fe Film Festival's annual awards ceremony. The All Roads Film Festival is part of the All Roads Film Project, a National Geographic initiative to provide a global platform for indigenous and under-represented minority-culture storytellers around the world to showcase their talents and teach a broader audience about their cultures. For more information on All Roads, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads.

Santa Fe Film Festival Salutes Crusading Filmmaker

Marina Goldovskaya, who made the first Russian documentary to expose the horrors of Stalin’s concentration camps, will receive a Luminaria Award for lifetime achievement at the 2007 Santa Fe Film Festival.

Goldovskaya is the festival’s second announced Luminaria recipient for this year, joining Alanis Obomsawin, a Canadian documentarian known for her powerful, uncompromising works that address the conflicts faced by contemporary Native peoples.

The festival runs Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2007 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and will offer a smorgasbord of more than 200 new and vintage films from around the globe. As part of its salute to Goldovskaya, the festival plans to show three titles from her body of work, encompassing 32 feature-length documentary films and more than 100 TV programs for Russian, Austrian, French, German and American television.

Goldovskaya was the first Russian filmmaker to introduce a personal diary style in the documentary genre to describe the social changes in Russia and how they affected the lives of the people. Her groundbreaking film on Stalin’s gulags, SOLOVKY POWER, will anchor the salute.

Made when it was still a risk to speak of such subjects in Russia, the film revealed haunting testimony from survivors of the first Soviet labor camp, a prison that served as a model for the gulags that followed. This revelatory documentary was eventually championed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who helped find an audience for its controversial disclosures. The film premiered in the USA at the Sundance Film Festival in 1989, where it received a special certificate of acknowledgement from the jury.

In addition to SOLVKY POWER, the Goldovskaya retrospective at the Santa Fe Film Festival will include:

·        THE HOUSE ON ARBAT STREET (1993). This film told the story of Russia in the 20^th century by following the destinies of the people who lived in one Moscow building. This film has aired on many European TV channels and in Canada, and received numerous international awards, including the Best Film of the Year Award at Prix Europe in 1994 and the Grand Prix at the Film Festival in Monte Carlo.

·        THE PRINCE IS BACK (2004). This is the story of one man's uncompromising fight to achieve his dream against all odds. The documentary chronicles Prince Eugene Meshersky's struggle to resurrect his life while restoring the rubble of his ancestor's castle to its former glory in a tiny village outside Moscow.

In the United States, Goldovskaya created A TASTE OF FREEDOM for Turner Television (TNT) in 1990.  It gave the world the first glimpses of the effects of perestroika, started by Gorbachev, by relating the life of a Moscow journalist and his family.

Parallel to her career as a filmmaker, Goldovskaya has pursued a teaching and academic career. She taught documentary in Moscow State University (1966-1995), and wrote six books on documentary filmmaking. Her last work, A WOMAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA: My Life as a Russian Filmmaker, was published in Russia in 2002 and just appeared in English as a paperback released by the University of Texas Press.

Currently, Goldovskaya heads the documentary film program in the School of Theater, Film & Television at the University of California, Los Angeles. She also served as a visiting professor at UC San Diego, Vassar College and California State University, Northridge, before becoming a full-time professor at UCLA in 1995.