Film Otero - Otero County - One of New Mexico's Premier Filming Locations

Desert Light Film Festival

Call for Entries is now open for the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition

The Desert Light Film organizers are searching for New Mexico high school and middle school students to participate in the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition on Friday, April 30, 2010. Presented by New Mexico State University Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, and sponsored by JC Penney, this competition will give students an opportunity to showcase their work, compete for prizes, and participate in seminars designed for young filmmakers. The competition concludes with a full day festival, held on the NMSU Alamogordo campus. Students come from throughout New Mexico to learn and to view student films. More than 50 student films will be showcased this year.

According to Otero County Film Liaison K. Jan Wafful, “Desert Light is open to all New Mexico high school and middle school students, including students who attend public, private or charter schools, or who are home schooled. We design this festival for any student who is preparing for a career in film. Categories include drama/comedy, documentary, animation, music video and the New Mexico Tourism 30-second commercial. The criteria for all categories include production quality, creativity, and resourcefulness.”

Sponsored by JC Penney through the JCPenney Foundation, Desert Light offers prizes in every category. First Place awards are $100 each. Honorable Mention awards are $50 each. Local JC Penneys store manager Jesse Casto will be on hand to personally present the awards for the winning films. Said Casto, “JCPenney is involved with various youth programs throughout the nation. Desert Light offers us a great opportunity here in Alamogordo to encourage young leaders and filmmakers of tomorrow by giving them a real film festival experience complete with screenings and seminars. We appreciate the opportunity to have partnered with NMSUA and the Otero County Film Office over the past 6 years. “

Seminars this year will include Final Cut Pro, special effects makeup for film, MAYA animation, special effects pyrotechnics and production techniques. Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSUA, has been part of Desert Light from the beginning. “Desert Light has always been about kids and education. Every year NMSUA staff members enjoy designing and teaching the seminars. It’s a great event to be a part of,” said Yancey.

A special Film Briefing with Ranger Kathy Denton has been arranged at the White Sands National Monument. Whenever professionals come to film at the Monument, they have certain procedures to follow before they arrive, and while they are filming. This interactive briefing teaches students much about the protocol of filming in national parks and working with other agencies. Students will arrive at the White Sands before sunset, and then be able to film some fabulous footage. This is a very special opportunity to spend several hours at one of the sites kept especially for filming. This event is open just to students and teachers attending the Desert Light Film Festival.

Organizers of the 2010 Desert Light Film Competition include K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison; Jesse Casto, store manager for JC Penney; Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSU Alamogordo; Ranger Kathy Denton, Education and Interpretation specialist at White Sands National Monument; Rebecca Price, Otero County Economic Development Council executive assistant; Joan Griggs, festival director from NMSU Alamogordo; and Dr. Bruce Martin, NMSU Alamogordo.

Submit films anytime now until Monday, March 15, 2010. Entries should be mailed to the Otero County Film Office, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo, NM 88310. Each entry requires a $5 entry fee. The official forms explaining the Entry Rules for all categories including the 30 second commercial, Judging and Awards and “Use of Submissions” are available on the Film Otero website www.filmotero.com . For more information, contact K. Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison at jan@filmotero.com or Joan Griggs at jgriggs@nmsua.nmsu.edu .

Click Here for Official Rules
Click Here to download Entry Form

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2009 Desert Light Film Festival

For Immediate Release:
March 4, 2009 -- 12:00 Noon
Contact: Jan Wafful, Film Liaison
City Office 505-439-4353
Film Office 505-434-5882

Desert Light Film Festival
Otero County Film OfficeK. Jan Wafful, Film Liaison
1301 N. White Sands Blvd.
Alamogordo, NM 88310

30 Second PSA:

2009 Desert Light Film Festival in Alamogordo, NM:

Call For Entries-Desert Light Offers High School and Middle School Film Competition to New Mexico Students

Announcing Desert Light Film Festival Friday, April 24, 2009 at New Mexico State University Alamogordo. Desert Light is seeking New Mexico high school and middle school filmmaker entries in: animation, documentary, music video, drama/comedy and TV commercial.

Special guest instructor is Kirk Ellis, 2-time Emmy award winner. The Otero County Film Office and NMSUA invite YOU to participate. Competition and cash prizes sponsored by JC Penney.

Enter today

End Public Service Announcement

Desert Light Film Competition
MISSION STATEMENT

Desert Light Film Competition, promoted by the Otero County Film Office, fosters the development of the New Mexico film industry by showcasing the work of New Mexico high school and middle school students.

Goals:

Encourage creative film arts with practical experience and educational seminars.

Increase the number of New Mexican filmmakers who will ultimately participate in a professional film industry being established in New Mexico.

Grow and nurture this industry from the ground up, anticipating that the legacy and heritage of New Mexico will be reflected in their future.

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Call for Entries is now open for the 2009 Desert Light Film Competition

The Desert Light Film Competition is hosting New Mexico high school and middle school students on Friday, April 24, 2009. Presented by New Mexico State University Alamogordo and the Otero County Film Office, this competition will give students an opportunity to showcase their work, compete for prizes, and participate in seminars designed for young filmmakers. The competition concludes with a full day festival, held on the NMSU Alamogordo campus. Students come from throughout New Mexico to learn and to view student films. More than 50 student films will be showcased this year.

This competition is designed for New Mexico high school and middle school students. Each entry may be up to seven minutes in length, including credits. Categories include drama/comedy, documentary, animation, music video and a special category this year, the New Mexico Tourism 30-second commercial. The criteria for all categories include production quality, creativity, and resourcefulness. Submit films anytime now until Monday, March 16, 2009. Entries should be mailed to the Otero County Film Office, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo, NM 88310. Each entry requires a $5 entry fee.

The new category this year is offered in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Tourism. The "30-second video for New Mexico Tourism" First Place and Honorable Mention winners, from both high school and middle school divisions, will be submitted directly to the tourism department for immediate consideration. The official tourism logo, which must be included in every commercial, can be found below. A link to tourism videos posted on the tourism website can also be found at: http://newmexico.org/video/index.php" http://newmexico.org/video/index.php . Although these videos are not commercials, they may inspire a good idea.

The official forms explaining the Entry Rules for all categories including the 30 second commercial, Judging and Awards and “Use of Submissions” are also available below. Seminars this year will include Final Cut Pro, special effects makeup for film, MAYA animation, storyboarding and production techniques. Organizers of the 2009 Desert Light Film Competition include Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison; Jesse Casto, manager for JC Penney, Bryan Yancey, ProTech division head at NMSU Alamogordo; Mike Espiritu, Otero County Economic Development Council executive director; Joan Griggs, NMSU Alamogordo; and Dr. Bruce Martin, NMSU Alamogordo. For more information, contact Jan Wafful, Otero County Film Liaison at jan@filmotero.com or Joan Griggs at jgriggs@nmsua.nmsu.edu.

Competition Downloads

Official Entry Rules
Official Entry Form
Tourism Logo Color
Tourism Logo Black & White

2009 Desert Light Film Festival