Film Is Not A Mirror But A Hammer

James Cromwell was nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Babe and who doesn't feel a little lump in their throat when Farmer Hoggett utters "That'll do pig, that'll do"?

James Cromwell has appeared in numerous movies including the New Mexico-made A Lonely Place for Dying, W, The Queen, LA Confidential, The People vs. Larry Flint, as well as TV shows like M.A.S.H. and Six Feet Under. He is super tall at 6'7", an ethical vegan, and in his early years, a supporter of the Black Panther Party. He's also this year's Luminaria Tributee for life time achievement at the Santa Fe Film Festival. 

Baby Comeback

Jody Lambert gets serious about films with his road trip, music-doc-comedy Of All the Things.

"In the 1970s, songwriter Dennis Lambert had four songs in the top 100 at once, a feat previously accomplished only by the Beatles. Now retired, and selling real estate, Lambert's discovery of an unlikely cult following--in the Philippines!!--lures him back on tour. Lambert's son follows his comeback there, in this hilarious documentary that captures every note." - AFI 

Actor Gone Director

Giancarlo Esposito has appeared in many films, including collaborating with Spike Lee in School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and Malcolm X. Gospel Hill is his directorial debut.

In Gospel Hill, non-actor Ralph Green gives a stunning performance of a disillusioned and disabled Vietnam vet. Green's true life story parallels the healing nature of the film, as he lost his leg to a drive-by shooting as a teen in Bedford-Stuyvesant but later became the first African-American to make the United States Disabled Alpine Ski Team. 

Globe-Doccers

Documentary filmmakers Kief Davidson, director of Kassim the Dream, and Daniel Junge, director of Iron Ladies of Liberia encourage the making of compelling stories, like the all-time classic Star Wars.

Kassim the Dream is about a child soldier who escapes his past of being forced to commit horrific atrocities by coming to America and becoming Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. I got a chance to watch Iron Ladies of Liberia which is an inspiring documentary about Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's first year in office as she tackles corruption, grapples with debt, poverty and the aftermath of war, and has an unusual political knack for being honest. Maybe women should rule the world?

Check The Culture

Meet Stacey Marbrey, Producer of AFI PROJECT: 20/20.

AFI PROJECT: 20/20 is a filmmaker program that is designed to enhance cultural exchange and challenge stereotypes through collaboration among filmmakers from around the world.

How to Photograph from the Heart

Documentarian Erin Hudson's film In Place Out of Time is screening again today at 4:45pm at Wharehouse 21.

Erin is a native of New Mexico and works both as filmmaker and educator.

Oil Interventionists

Meet Director Josh Tickell and Producer Rebecca Harrell of the documentary Fuel that challenges our addiction to oil. They also have other jobs - Rebecca is an actress and Josh has authored Biodiesel America and From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank.



"Record high oil prices, global warming, and an insatiable demand for energy: these issues define our generation. The film exposes shocking connections between the auto industry, the oil industry, and the government, while exploring alternative energies such as solar, wind, electricity, and non-food-based biofuels. Josh Tickell and his Veggie Van take us on the road to discover the pros and cons of biofuels, how America's addiction to oil is destroying the U.S. economy, and how green energy can save us, but only if we act now." - IMDB.

Addicted to Making Movies

Janet Davidson is fan of Justin Hunt's documentary American Meth.

Janet Davidson was AD and Director of over 200 episodic and telefilms, including Cagney and Lacey and Judging Amy. Janet’s short film A Piece of Pie was one of the New Mexico Governor’s Cup winners at the SFFF, and won Best Short Comedy at the International Family Film Festival in Los Angeles. She is Executive Producer of the yet untitled Black Panther Project. Justin Hunt runs the New Mexico-based production company Time and Tide Productions. Also one of the Governor's Cup winners at SFFF, American Meth is narrated by Val Kilmer and looks at the effects of the drug methamphetamine on American culture.

Born to Kill: Stephen Rubin

Embodying the duality of man, Stephen Rubin is Deputy Director of the Santa Fe Film Festival as well as filmmaker and actor. Find inspiration from Sam Shepard, tips on how to make a film from Martin Scorcese and how to wax eloquent like Lee Ermey.

The Animator

Jeff Harms submitted his short The Bite to the Santa Fe Film Festival because he thought it would be a warm place to visit, but luckily it’s been snowing.

2007 World Press Photo Award

Akintunde Akinleye is the winner of the 2007 World Press Award. His winning photograph captures the devastation of a broken oil pipeline that killed 260 people in Lagos, Nigeria. He traveled to Santa Fe, Washington DC and Los Angeles with National Geographic’s All Roads Film Project.

Miller's Web

Found Stephen Miller, dreamer of websites, at a pre-screening of one the festival's documentaries, Rumi Returning. 

Being Navajo Just Is

Tony Estrada was bred on the Rez, ran off to LA to work in production, only to return home to produce and direct his own documentaries focused on Native American themes. You can find him at Wild Horse Films.

He likes 'The Princess Bride' and fairytale endings.

505 Por Vida!

Caught up with New Mexican actress Aviva and her friend Graciera. Aviva garnered recognition for her role in last summer's teen comedy hit Superbad and her recent work Forgiving the Franklins was featured at the festival. Not bad for somebody who started off in commercials selling fabric softener at the age of six.

And she really is just Supernice. Viva Aviva!

Who's Who...

Some of the people we met at the festival...



Know anyone?

Press Pass - All Films Access

A John Alvin design - he does film posters - like Blazing Saddles, E.T., Blade Runner, The Princess Bride, The Lion King, Jurassic Park and plenty more.

Favorites films so far seem to have a Middle Eastern component...the documentary Operation Filmmaker charts the strange and tumultuous journeys of an Iraqi film student who works on surreal Hollywood sets in Europe. The camera turns back on the woman making the film, Nina Davenport, as she questions her subject's motivations and her true, somewhat disparaging feelings for him.

Persepolis is an awesome dreamscape and reality bite of the life of an Iranian child-to-woman. Animated, personal, historical, political, lovelorn, new wave feministic and absolutely hilarious. Marjane is my hero!

Any favorite films?

Natural American Spirit

Meet Mr. Eric Davis, a member of the board.

Cigarettes and John Cusack...

Jump on the New Media Bandwagon - Manifest Destiny or Crash and Burn

What are we trying to do?

Experiment with new media.

What is new media?

I haven't a tuned-in response but I think it's associated with trying to think out of the traditional filmmaking box.

So we are not here to make a flashy, meaningful, comprehensive film or documentary.

We are not here to report on festival events.

But we are here to help build community.

So if you see us walking around with our little easy-to-use throw away cameras, our new media tools, and you want to tell us who you are and why you are here at the festival, well then we are happy to make a short video portrait of you, as part of the festival community.

In due time, we will do our best to post you on our website. No promises but the best of intentions.

And when you run out of business cards.........we'll have you covered.

Kelly Kowalski
Documentary/New Media
KNME-PBS

The Festival inFOCUS

Last week KNME's New Mexico inFOCUS sat down with a few filmmakers for a preview of what to expect at the festival...

2007 Santa Fe Film Festival

We're in Santa Fe for the 8th annual SF Film Festival...



...and wondering if we SAVE THE FILM, can we SAVE THE WORLD? Or if the world could even be bothered with another media tagline?