Desert Light Film Festival calls it quits after 20 years of events
The Desert Light Film Festival (DLFF) held its final, statewide event Friday morning, April 28, at the Tays Event Center at the New Mexico State University-Alamogordo.
Students listened to speakers Don Foster, comedy screenwriter for Two and a Half Men, and Erin Quigley an Adobe-certified expert in post-production techniques for underwater photographers.
Quigley presented through a Zoom call from the Maldives where she trained underwater photographers. Quigley is also a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, Boston Sea Rovers and Ocean Artists Society.
The DLFF was eager for both speakers to present said Director Joan Griggs as this year's event was the last for the festival.
"We started two film festivals: The White Sands Film Festival for professionals (which has become the Las Cruces Film Festival after being the White Sands International Film Festival) and then Desert Light for high school and middle school students," Director for the DLFF Joan Griggs said.
More: Over 100 films screened during Las Cruces International Film Festival
Over the last 20 years, DLFF provided competitions, cash prizes, and educational seminars to students that have participated in all the events.
After the Tays Event Center, students and teachers went to the Flickinger Center where nearly 250 students from High Schools and Middle Schools presented their top-rated films.
Schools from all across New Mexico participated in the event. Griggs said, Lovington High School, New Mexico Academy for Media Arts (Albuquerque), Public Academy for Performing Arts (Albuquerque), Moreno Valley High School (Angle Fire), Centennial High School (Las Cruces), Organ Mountain High School (Las Cruces), Sierra Middle School and Picacho Middle School (both Las Cruces) and Alamogordo High School were all in attendance.
The winner of Best of Festival, Mason Carmona took home a $100 cash prize and a movie sized poster of his own film.
"I have enjoyed meeting film teachers all over New Mexico, as well as talented students who are on their own – either their school has no film program, or they are home schooled. This year we had over 140 films submitted for judging, it may not be a record-breaking number but for us it is a lot," Griggs said.
DLFF was funded by the Otero County Economic Development Council but after its dissolvement, DLFF had its final event this year. DLFF also received funding for prize money through internet provider, TDS Telecom.
"We are a part of the community, and we support our local community," Barbara Mick, film market manager for TDS said. "We have several different areas we service in New Mexico and that is one thing we want to be is a part of the community not just a service provider."
Mick said TDS were partners with the Otero Economic Development Council (EDD). She said TDS did the funding through EDD that provided awards for the festival.
"Due to the dissolving of Otero County Economic Development Council, we will be ending DLFF. They have served as our umbrella organization all these years for insurance and financial affairs. We appreciate them so much for all they have done. They have been a great partner," Griggs said.
The Alamogordo Daily News reached out to EDD for comment but did not receive a response.
"I think EDD was an important part of our community but the City of Alamogordo, Alamogordo Center of Commerce and the Main Street organization, from what I have seen, are all pulling together to bring more economic development for Alamogordo," Mick said.
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Desert Light Film Festival ends after 20 years of student films
