The White Sands International Film
Festival - Las Cruces, New Mexico - April 15-18th
Photo by Ellis Neal
March 16th, 2010 @10am WSIFF Ribbon Cutting Allen
Theatres Cineport 10
Fundraiser April 3rd, 2010
An evening with WSIFF Board Member Mark Medoff, "Taking
REFUGE” with Mark Medoff
83 minutes of stories, scenes, amusing videos, surprise
guests and technological gliches. Screening at
Allen Theatres Cineport 10. Reception to follow at
the Medoff Compound. All Proceeds Benefit the
White Sands International Film Festival. $50 per
person, $75 couple. Tickets on sale now
www.wsiff.com
WSIFF Passes on Sale now!! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/90360
The WSIFF MISSION: The WSIFF is a non-profit 5013c
organization dedicated to the creation of opportunities
for artistic interaction and exchange among independent
filmmakers, directors, producers, distributors, backers,
and the film going community. It is our missions to not
only exhibit the best films available, but also to serve
as a medium for new projects to get launched, financed
and distributed. Networking opportunities at the WSIFF
builds lasting connections in the unique backdrop of New
Mexico.
Thursday April 15th
OPENING NIGHT
Opening Night Film- "Ocean of Pearls"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0871438/
Awards received:
Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival 2008 Won Audience Award
VC FilmFest - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
2008 Won Audience Award Narrative Feature
Grand Jury Prize Best Narrative Feature
Actor Omid Abtahi will be in attendance to present Ocean
of Pearls
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1859475/
Omid’s Bio:
Omid Abtahi was born in Iran and lived there and later
in Europe before moving to the United States w his
family. Since arriving to Los Angeles, Omid has been a
series regular on FX's "Over There" and Showtime's
"Sleeper Cell". Omid also appeared in the film
"Mysteries of Pittsburgh" which premiered at Sundance in
2008. He starred alongside Peter Saarsgard, Nick Nolte,
Jon Foster, and Sienna Miller. He has also recurred on
the television shows such as My Own Worst Enemy, NCIS,
and 24. Omid was recently seen in Brothers, a film
directed by Jim Sheridan, which was shot in New Mexico.
In it, he stars alongside Tobey Maguire, Natalie
Portman, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Before acting on
television Abtahi performed on stage in many theatrical
productions including Fraulein Else at the Berkeley
Repertory, McCarter Theatre and Longwarf Theatre;
Adoration of the Old Woman at the Sundance Theatre Lab
and Your Everyday Typical Romantic Comedy at the Kennedy
Centre.
Omid holds a special place for Oceans of Pearls in his
heart. It was truly an incredible experience for Omid,
as he has made friends he will cherish for the rest of
his life.
Opening Night Party-
(VIP ticket holders only)
Hosted by UTEP Alumni, at the Preston Gallery for
Contemporary Art
http://www.prestoncontemporaryart.com/
Saturday April 17th
Wes Studi will receive Life Time Achievement Award and
will also be inducted into the New Mexico Film Society.
http://www.nmfilmsociety.org/
Wes Studi Biography
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0836071/
http://www.thestudigroup.com/
Saturday special screening: The Only Good Indian
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078917/
Awards Ceremony VIP After Party
Held at the Alameda House hosted by the New Mexico Wine
Growers Association
http://www.nmwine.com/
Festival Passes
Thursday April 15th- Sunday, April 18th
VIP PLATINUM PASSES $150
Priority Access to all films
Access to all panels
Entrance Private After Parties
FILM PASSES $75
Access to all films
Access to all panels
STUDENT PASS $25
Access to all films
Access to all panels
CASTING WORKSHOP $75 Thursday,April15th Writer/Director
Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God, Refuge) and
Casting Director Donn Finn (Avatar, Titanic, L.A.
Confidential, Wonder Boys) are teaming up to give an
intensive casting workshop during the WSIFF.
Participants will have a chance to work on a scene and
then audition on camera. Learn about the audition
process and find out what casting directors are looking
for!
How it Began
The White Sands International Film Festival began in
Alamogordo, NM in 2005 after a group of art industry
supporters felt that it would benefit southern New
Mexico to have more of a film presence in its region,
and by building the arts through film within the south,
it would thusly aid and build the film industry in New
Mexico as a whole. The WSIFF staff and volunteers worked
tirelessly to put together a small little festival
focusing on films made in New Mexico or made by Latino
filmmakers, and people have taken notice. In 2009 the
WSIFF expanded into Las Cruces. This expansion into a
larger market enabled the festival to retain its
commitment to bring high quality festival programming
while intensifying arts education in the region.
Past Guests
François Girard, Director "The Red Violin"; Arturo
Ripstein, Director,"La Reina de la Noche" ; Alejandro
Monteverde, Director, Producer, "Bella"; Paz Alicia
Garciadiego, Screenwriter, "Profundo Carmesi" ; Mark
Medoff, Writer, Director, "Children of A Lesser God" ;
Ali Landry, Actress, "Bella" ; Jamison Jones, Actor, "He
Was A Quiet Man", "24" ; Elliott Lewitt, Producer, "At
Close Range"; Jordan Roberts, Director "Around the
Bend"; Rick Shroeder, Actor, Producer, "Black Cloud",
Rocky Lang, Producer, Writer, "White Squall", "How I
Broke Into Hollywood"; Wes Studi, Actor, "Last of the
Mohicans
www.wsiff.com
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