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.