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Santa Fe Film Institute Cultivates Local and Regional Talent with Notable Grant Awards
The Santa Fe Film Institute (SFFI) is actively fostering cinematic creativity,recently announcing a series of grants designed to support filmmakers both within New Mexico and across the broader region. Among the recipients, Natalie Bennally will receive $2,500 for her film Within Me, There is Happiness, and Ryan Rox has also been awarded $2,500 for his project Not Exactly Strangers. Adding to the significant support, P. Antonio Marquez secured the prestigious $10,000 Los Luceros grant for his upcoming production, Taos Revolt, which is slated to be filmed at the historic Los Luceros Site.
Expanding its reach, the institute offers grants up to $10,000 for New Mexico-based filmmakers, while out-of-state applicants can receive up to $5,000. This regional focus is exemplified by grants awarded to Austin, Texas filmmakers Amy Martinez and Megan Tillman, who received $5,000 and $3,500 respectively. Arizona filmmaker Sal Baldnegro also benefits from this initiative, receiving $1,500 for his project, marking SFFI’s inaugural grant to an Arizona-based filmmaker.This strategic expansion, according to an SFFI representative, aims to elevate New Mexico’s profile as a hub for film opportunities.
Jacques Paisner, President of SFFI and Artistic Director/co-founder of the Santa Fe International Film Festival, highlighted the impact of the increased regional grant funding.”I think now that filmmakers can apply for up to $5,000, we got a lot more regional submissions, and that’s how we were able to award to that project in Arizona,” Paisner stated. He further emphasized the institute’s position: “Even if you don’t count the regional grant, we’re the biggest public film grantor in new Mexico-but I’m very excited it’s also regional, because it gets Santa Fe as a film destination into the surrounding areas and they get to find out about the exciting things we’re doing here.”
Paisner clarified that grant recipients will not receive preferential treatment at the Santa Fe International Film Festival itself. Notably, the festival achieved Oscar-qualifying status for animated, documentary, and live-action shorts in 2024.The upcoming 17th annual festival, scheduled from October 15-20, has seen a record number of submissions, a surge Paisner attributes in part to the new Oscar component.
Looking ahead,Paisner anticipates 2025 to be a landmark year for the festival. Irrespective of where the SFFI grantees’ films are showcased, Paisner expressed immense pride in the caliber of the projects and the emerging talent being supported. “We’re very proud of the exciting projects and these up and coming filmmakers, these new filmmakers, because this is a really talented group of people we’re awarding funds to, and it reflects well on the city of Santa Fe to have so much local talent,” he concluded.
the final deadline for submissions to the Santa Fe International Film Festival is Thursday, July 17.
