Admission Now Free to High Plains Film Festival on Sunday

PORTALES—Admission is now free to everyone attending the High Plains Film Festival at Eastern New Mexico University on Sunday, May 4, at the University Theatre Center on the Portales campus. The event will run from 1-5 p.m. Since refreshments will be served, attendees are requested to call in for free tickets at 575-562-2373. However, until capacity is reached, those showing up at the door without tickets will be admitted.

Following comments by Oscar Robinson on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Film Festival director Robert Vartabedian will introduce distinguished critic Jack Sholder.

A special screening of the 1970 Academy Award-nominated documentary "King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis" will be held at 1:30 p.m. The documentary was directed by Sidney Lumet and Joseph Mankiewicz, and edited by Sholder. Also a judge for the High Plains Film Festival, Sholder will discuss the documentary. He is an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director who leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina University. Among many other films, he directed “Nightmare on Elm Street 2.”

Following the documentary, the Film Festival will conclude with the viewing and discussion of the winning short films in the pre-college, animation, documentary, and dramatic categories.

Other judges included: actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York"; former ENMU student and screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005; and the office of Gov. Bill Richardson.

The High Plains Film Festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program, established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.

For more information, check the festival Web site at www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373. 

Groups Get in Free to High Plains Film Fest on May 4

Non-profit and educational groups will get in free to the High Plains Film Festival at Eastern from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at the University Theatre Center. Tickets for individuals are $5 at the door.

Screenings will begin at 3:30 p.m. for approximately eight short winning films, up to 10 minutes long, in the categories of animation, documentary/experimental and dramatic. Winners were chosen from pre-college and college and beyond divisions.

A special screening of the 1969 Academy Award-nominated documentary "King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis" will be held at 1:30 p.m.  The documentary was directed by Sidney Lumet and Joseph Mankiewicz, and edited by Jack Sholder.  Sholder, a judge for the High Plains Film Fest, will be present to discuss the documentary.  He is an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director who leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina University.

Other judges include actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York."

Another panelist is former ENMU student and screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005.

Gov. Bill Richardson's office is also judging.

The film festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program, established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.

For more information, check the festival Web site at www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373. 

Governor's Office to Help Judge High Plains Film Festival
(Screening Set for May 4)

Date: 3/26/2008
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's office will help judge Eastern New Mexico University's High Plains Film Festival. As a result, the postmark deadline for submitting entries has been extended to April 9.

The screening of winning entries is set for May 4 in the University Theatre Center.

Filmmakers are competing in animated, dramatic and documentary/experimental works that are no longer than 10 minutes. The contest includes a pre-college division for students through 12th grade and a college-plus division for all others. A total of six $500 prizes will be awarded in the respective categories.

Gov. Richardson's office joins a judging panel of award-winning actors, directors and screenwriters.

Judges include actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York."

Another panelist is screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005.

Appearing in person at the screening will be judge Jack Sholder, an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director who leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina University.

Entry fees are $20 in the pre-college division and $30 for the college-plus division. Submit four DVD copies of each entry, playable on a standard DVD player, to High Plains Film Festival, College of Fine Arts, ENMU Station 16, Music Building, Room 113, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM, 88130.

The film festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program, established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.

For more information, check the festival Web site at www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373. 

ENMU Seeks Entries for New Film Festival

Date: 2/28/2008
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253

PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University is accepting short film entries through March 21 for the first High Plains Film Festival.

A judging panel of award-winning actors, directors and screenwriters will award six $500 prizes. Winning entries will be screened May 4 in Portales, at a location to be announced.

Filmmakers may enter animated, dramatic and documentary/experimental works that are no longer than 10 minutes. The contest includes a pre-college division for students through 12th grade and a college-plus division for all others. Entries must not have won awards previously in a juried competition.

Judges include actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York."

Another panelist is screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005.

Jack Sholder, an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director, leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina University.

The film festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program, established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.

For more information, check the festival Web site at www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373. 

Entries must be received by March 21. Entry fees are $20 in the pre-college division and $30 for the college-plus division. Submit four DVD copies of each entry, playable on a standard DVD player, to High Plains Film Festival, College of Fine Arts, ENMU Station 16, Music Building, Room 113, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM, 88130.