Archive for March, 2010

This year will mark the festival’s second year in Las Cruces.  The festival will feature 36 feature length films and 18 short films from established and up-and-coming film makers. Included this year will be the award winning “Oceans of Pearls,” as well as  three documentaries from the National Geographic All Roads Film Project.  Huge savings on festival passes with the following packages!

 
White Sands International Film Festival Packages

Hampton Inn & Suites – $328 *
Package includes:
Lodging for Friday and Saturday nights (April 16 & 17), breakfast for two, two VIP passes to the Film Festival and a welcome gift from the CVB.
For reservations, call: (575) 527-8777 ext 358

Hotel Encanto – $348 *
Package includes:
Lodging for Friday and Saturday nights (April 16 & 17), breakfast for two, two VIP passes to the Film Festival and a welcome gift from the CVB.
For reservations, call: (575) 522-4300
 
Ramada Palms Hotel – $308 *
Package includes:
Lodging for Friday and Saturday nights (April 16 & 17), breakfast for two, two VIP passes to the Film Festival and a welcome gift from the CVB.
For reservations, call: (575) 526-4411
 
All packages include coupons for:
 
A $39 massage or facial at Serenity Massage & Skin Care (first time visitors)* 648 N. Alameda Blvd., (575) 373-9686, www.serenitymsc.com
 
25% off Sunday brunch at the Double Eagle Restaurant*
On the plaza in historic Old Mesilla, (575) 523-6700, www.double-eagle-mesilla.com
 
50% off the new Chile Relleno Burger in Peppers Café*
Inside Double Eagle on the plaza in historic Old Mesilla,
(575) 523-6700, www.double-eagle-mesilla.com
 
Free appetizer nosh with the pruchase of an entree at St. Clair Winery & Bistro,* 1800 Avenida de Mesilla, (575) 524-0390, www.stclairvineyards.com 
 

*Valid 4/16/10-4/18/10. Subject to availability and not available with any other offers or on existing reservations. Restaurant and spa reservations must be made directly between guest and particiapting businesses. Taxes, fees and gratuities not included. The Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of the information, we assume no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions.

Shooting Stars – Celebrating the beauty and spirit of life, will be the theme of the 16th annual Border Book Festival, April 8-11, 2010 in Mesilla, New Mexico. 

The festival’s featured guest this year will be famed Latino writer Victor Villaseñor, author of many novels and children’s books, including his upcoming Rain of Gold, considered by many to be one of the finest tales of immigrant life. 

As a gifted and accomplished speaker, Villaseñor brings a fresh perspective to a number of universal themes, including pride in heritage, the strength of family, the power of the written word, and dedication to education and personal achievement. Villaseñor will give a series of presentations including: Walking Stars: We are All Walking Stars, on Friday, April 9, and Rain of Gold: Indigenous Wisdom at 1:30 pm on Saturday.  Both will take place at the Mesilla Community Center located at 2231  Calle de Parian in Mesilla.  Tickets for Friday’s events are $10, Saturday’s event is free.

Other Saturday events include storytelling by Kathleen Contreras, author of Braids as well as an interactive writing workshop taught by author Martha Egan and a Mayan Calendar workshop led by Carlos Aceves.  Workshops are $7 each. 

Saturday concludes with the second annual ¡Viva La Vida! concert on the Mesilla Plaza featuring music from Sobredosis del Sabor beginning at 7 pm.

Events on Sunday begin at 10 am with an open house at the Mesilla Community Center followed by a reading featuring authors Martha Egan, Nancy Green and others.

For more information, contact the festival at (575) 523-2399, bbf@borderbookfestival.com, or visit them at www.borderbookfestival.org.

Who: Jose Galvez
What: Speaking about his work in the new Federal Courthouse 
When: March 24, 2010
Where: Branigan Cultural Center
Contact: (575) 541-2154

José Galvez to speak at Branigan Cultural Center

Las Cruces, NM – Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Galvez will speak at the Branigan Cultural Center on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 6 p.m. Galvez will speak about his commissioned work, Patriotismo-Patriotism, which is being installed in the new Federal Courthouse.
 
Galvez has been documenting Hispanic life across the United States for 40 years. His black and white documentary photographs focus on the everyday life of Hispanics here in the United States. Patriotismo-Patriotism was inspired in part by the outpouring of patriotism displayed by Latinos across the United States following 9/11.
 
The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main Street, is located at the north end of the downtown mall in Las Cruces.  The program is free and open to the public.  Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  For more information about exhibits and programs, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at las-cruces.org/museums.

Who: White Sands International Film Festival
What: White Sands International Film Festival 
When: April 15-18, 2010 
Where: Allen Theaters Cineport 10
Contact: (877) 345-6973

Lots in store for this year’s White Sands International Film Festival
 
LAS CRUCES, NM – Tickets are now on sale for this year’s White Sands International Film Festival (WSIFF), and with a fundraiser featuring renowned Writer/Director Mark Medoff, this year’s WSIFF is sure to be chalked with exciting events and, most importantly, a variety of wonderful cinema.
 
Although the WSIFF is scheduled to run from April 15-18, 2010 the WSIFF will kick off the pre-event festivities with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Allen Theaters Cineport 10, located at 700 S. Telshor Blvd., on March 16 at 10 a.m. 
 
Also included in the pre-event festivities is a fundraiser entitled, “Taking Refuge in Las Cruces: 83 minutes of stories, scenes, amusing videos, surprise guests and technological glitches from the making of Refuge,” that will feature an appearance and talk by WSIFF Board Member Mark Medoff, as well as a variety of clips, scenes and stories about his latest movie, Refuge. The screening will be held at Allen Theaters Cineport 10 on April 3, 2010 from 7 to 11 p.m. The screening will be followed by a reception at Medoff’s home. Tickets are $50 per person or $75 per couple. All proceeds will benefit the WSIFF.
 
Opening day of the festival will feature a casting workshop by Writer/Director Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God, Refuge) and Casting Director Donn Finn (Avatar, Titanic, L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys) who are teaming up to give an intensive casting workshop. Participants will have a chance to work on a scene, then audition on camera while learning about the audition process and finding out what casting directors are looking for. The cost for the workshop is $75.
 
Opening night will feature the film “Ocean of Pearls,” a film about, “traditional (Sikh) values coming into conflict with life in 21st-century North America,” according to the internet movie database website. The film has received a number of awards including the Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival 2008 Audience Award, VC FilmFest – Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2008 Audience Award for Narrative Feature and Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. The screening will be presented by Actor Omid Abtahi, the film’s lead actor, who has also appeared in a number of ongoing television series’, as well as a variety of films including the 2009 film, “Brothers,” where he stars alongside, Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
 
After the screening a “VIP Opening Night Party,” hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso Alumni, will be held at the Preston Contemporary Art Center. Participants must have a VIP ticket to attend. 
 
The festival will finish up with an award ceremony on April 17 for Actor Wes Studi, who will receive Life Time Achievement Award and will also be inducted into the New Mexico Film Society. Along with the ceremony, there will be a special screening of, “The Only Good Indian.” After the ceremony and screening, a VIP after party, hosted by the New Mexico Wine Growers Association, will be held at the Alameda House, 526 S. Alameda Blvd.
 
The WSIFF is a non-profit 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 their mission to not only exhibit the best films available, but also serve as a medium for new projects to get launched, financed and distributed. Networking opportunities at the WSIFF build lasting connections in the unique backdrop of New Mexico.
 
The White Sands International Film Festival began in Alamogordo, NM in 2005 with a group of art industry supporters who sought to bring a more pronounced film presence to southern New Mexico. The WSIFF staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to put together a small festival focusing on films made in New Mexico or made by Latino filmmakers. In 2009 the WSIFF expanded into Las Cruces, which  enabled the festival to retain its commitment to bring high quality festival programming while intensifying arts education in the region.
 
Along with the rich variety of films, the festival has brought a number of prominent guests to the region including: Director François Girard, (The Red Violin); Director Arturo Ripstein, (La Reina de la Noche); Director/Producer Alejandro Monteverde, (Bella); Screenwritier Paz Alicia Garciadiego, (Profundo Carmesi); Writer/Director Mark Medoff, (Children of A Lesser God); Actress Ali Landry, (Bella); Actor Jamison Jones, (He Was A Quiet Man, 24); Producer Elliott Lewitt, (At Close Range); Director Jordan Roberts, (Around the Bend); Actor/Producer Rick Shroeder, (Black Cloud), Producer/Writer Rocky Lang, (White Squall, How I Broke Into Hollywood) and Actor Wes Studi, (Last of the Mohicans.)
 
Passes for the WSIFF are $25 – $150 and can be purchased online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/90360. General Admission tickets for individual films are also available ten minutes before each screening for $8 per screening. Ticket sales are subject to availability.  For more information about the festival or events, visit www.wsiff.org or call: (877) 345-6973.
 

Who: Margaret Bernstein
What: Artwork on display 
When: March 2010 
Where: Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau Lobby Gallery
Contact: (575) 541-2150

Local watercolor artist chosen as artist of the month for the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s visitors lobby gallery
 
LAS CRUCES, NM – During the month of March, a collection of Margaret Bernstein’s work will be on display and available for sale, in the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau lobby, located at 211 N. Water Street.
 
Inspired by many elements of the natural and cultural environment of the Southwest, Bernstein’s work often brings out the beauty of the natural Southwestern environment with a rich depth of color to and unique style all her own.
 
“Coming to the Southwest triggered an acute awareness of refreshing, yet fragile artifacts and natural environments,” said Bernstein in a statement on the New Mexico Water Color Society website.
 
As a fifth-generation female artist, Bernstein seems to hold a special connection to artists of generations past, noting that, “at the core of my love of painting is the awe and fascination I hold for the land and the creativity of its earliest inhabitants… they have contributed greatly to the artistic climate modern artists experience in the Southwest,” said Bernstein in a statement the Artists of the Southwest website.
 
Many of the paintings on display have vivid color schemes that depict the beauty of the natural Southwestern environment. As an added component to Bernstein’s work, two of the pieces on display also incorporate poetry by Rick Bernstein.
 
“March is an especially provocative time to consider the mountains so dear to Las Cruces,” said Bernstein while explaining the “renewed longing that arises for walking trails, hiking, and viewing wildflowers,” that often accompanies the seasonal transition into Spring.
 
Painting in a variety of mediums, from acrylic to watercolor, Bernstein’s work has been exhibited in a number of galleries throughout the Mesilla Valley.
 
Each month the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau features artwork from a local artist in the visitors lobby gallery. The Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau is located at 211 N. Water Street in Las Cruces, NM. For more information contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at (575) 541-2150.