THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL 2004 AWARDSThe Santa Fe Film Festival awarded Luminaria Awards to two film legends – Alan Arkin and Alfonso Arau, showcased both the Governor’s state-wide awards and the Film Museum’s industry tributes, and awarded ten Milagro Awards at a star studded gala Saturday night.Hosted by Jonathan Richards, the sold-out Gala lauded Arkin and Arau for careers of many decades and across several artistic endeavors. Retrospectives of their work had played to enthusiastic fa...

The chilly Santa Fe Film Festival, now firmly established as a critical stop on the film festival calendar as an “under the wire” event for filmmakers looking for that last chance at a looming Oscar deadline, went off for the fifth edition under the guidance of festival director Jon Bowman. If there’s any over riding factor now bedeviling the organizers is the abundance of material showing up on their doorstep. With over 900 entries, the festival finds itself as a late year bell weather of...

THE SANTA FE FILM FESTIVAL 2004 December 1 – December 5 The Santa Fe Film Festival, which opens Wednesday, is preserving its reputation as an Oscar bellwether.Seven titles that played in last year’s Santa Fe Film Festival subsequently netted Oscar honors, collecting a grand total of 16 nominations among them.This season’s Oscar finalists won’t be announced until Jan. 25, 2005, with the awards ceremony following on Feb. 27.But two documentary features in this week’s Santa Fe Film Festiv...

As recently as four years ago, the New Mexico film festival marketplace featured a slug fest between the long running Taos Talking Picture Festival (TTPIX) and the upstart Santa Fe Film Festival (SFFF). Both possessed a unique niche, mountain town settings, and devoted audiences. For indie film festival freaks in the area, life was good. Alas, things never stay the same for long in this volatile business.Locals were stunned at the news last month that the nine year old Taos Talking Picture Festi...