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Official Selection - Albuquerque Live Festival
Thursday, August 22nd - Sunday, August 25th 2024





All screenings will be at:
Guild Cinema
3405 Central Avenue NE Albuquerque, NM
---> Map


Thursday, August 22nd - Pre Festival Mixer at Tractor Brewing Company Nob Hill - 5:00pm
118 Tulane Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM
***Filmakers, Crew, Friends, and Family! (No pass or ticket needed)***

Friday, August 23rd 1:00pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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With You
(Dir. Evan Doll)
[USA]

A team of military contractors investigate the kidnapping of their friend and pilot. They use their skills to race against a doomsday clock, fight the enemies they've made over the years, and attempt to save their friend AND the world.



Friday, August 23rd 3:30pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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Outsider
(Dir. Zachary Huber)
[USA]

Amidst the vast expanse of New Mexico's desert, Dave escapes from the world, purchasing a small plot where he and his loyal dog find solace in the tranquil surroundings. An entire year of silence ensues, with the desert's breathtaking beauty as his only companion. With limited resources, Dave crafts a humble existence, revealing the compelling reasons that drove him to such extreme isolation. Against the desert sun, his story unfolds, a testament to resilience and the strength of human spirit.



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Our Flags, "New Glory"
(Dir. Kim-Jimi/ llysa)
[USA]

Sixth grade students make flags that represent themselves, their cultures, communities, and land.



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God's Truck
(Dir. David Biagini)
[USA]

An unusual pickup truck reunites a father with his lost daughter.

Two friends investigate mysterious lights on the truck's dashboard only to discover that it is leading them to the treasure that each is looking for.



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Warrior Intern's Quest for Love
(Dir. Shihyun Wang)
[KOR]

A Korean man vowed to be a Kungfu master before proposing to his dream girl. However, he had a second thought after going through meditation for love.



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That Which Hurts the Most
(Dir. Alexander Alayon Jr)
[USA]

A mother in AA gets a call that her son committed suicide, she talks to her five closest friends in the program to help, with each representing a different stage of grief.



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Legendz
(Dir. Anthony Aaron Parker)
[USA]

A down and out Native American man must dig up bones for a shady museum curator. The land is protected by a spirit and William Bill must use his mental abilities to eventually place the bones back on the sacred land.



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VAX
(Dir. Stephen Burhoe)
[USA]

Patients wait their turn to receive a vaccination… but for what? To prevent the Zombie Apocalypse?! What if someone doesn’t want it? This can only create mayhem in the clinic.



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Be Good, Stay Safe
(Dir. Aiyana Shuler)
[USA]

An Indigenous college student who shows up at her best friend Molly's house for a study session turned Halloween house party of which Lucille wasn't aware. As she enters the house, Lucille sees the Deer Lady standing in the midst of the party, but she quickly vanishes. The Deer Lady warns Lucille of danger at the party and Lucille is forced to reckon with her own desire to get her work done while she tries to understand what the Deer Lady could mean.



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No Mas
(Dir. Stephen Michael Kelly)
[USA]

Couple struggles with infidelity and the possibility of divorce.



Friday, August 23rd 6:00pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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At Your Convenience
(Dir. Chance Holmes-Snowden)
[USA]

A young woman decides to buy a homeless man a lottery ticket, only to deeply regret that decision later.



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I Can't Save You
(Dir. Stephen Michael Kelly)
[USA]

Police Officer deals with the death of his partner, divorce and trying to reconcile with his young daughter.



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VR
(Dir. Arnaldo Mirabal)
[USA]

Down on his luck and having trouble with his girlfriend, Richard comes across an old VR headset in the trash. Putting it on, he finds himself and his girlfriend transported to a world where they are secret agents on a high-stakes mission. Determining the actual reality is more difficult than it seems. VR is an experience spanning multiple frame rates.



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Intertwined
(Dir. Michelle Adriana Martinez)
[USA]

Sometimes the ones who need saving, are the ones who save us in return. Miguel, an artist grappling with anxiety and suicidal thoughts finds solace in Mari, a spirited girl with her own hidden struggles. Intertwined delves into the topic of mental health offering hope and the enduring strength that can be found in human connection through the power of love, friendship, and empathy.



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The Legend of Cactus Canyon
(Dir. Matthew Evans & Seriah Getty-Evans)
[USA]

Notorious outlaw Pete McKay has almost found the long-searched-for treasure of Cactus Canyon. But when several other rascally opponents show up to claim the treasure as well, a showdown is inevitable.



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An Andy Chapter
(Dir. Kyle Crist)
[USA]

Andy, an addict whose quitting journey has been feeble, faces the comically absurd and ends up finding support in unexpected places.



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The Unknown Metal Box
(Dir. Maddie Stambler & Madison Cavalchire)
[USA]

THE UNKNOWN METAL BOX is a stranger than fiction mystery following an artist’s mission to reunite a box of photo negatives he found in the 1980s at a thrift store in Albuquerque, New Mexico with its original owner. The film explores themes of documentation, memory, and loss.



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Out of My Mouth - Madeline Rosene
(Dir. Moe Taylor)
[USA]



Friday, August 23rd 8:30pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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A Five & Dime Story
(Dir. Sarah Kanafani)
[USA]

The Five and Dime General Store, rooted in Santa Fe Plaza, blends practicality with nostalgia, drawing locals and tourists alike. With nine stores nationwide, it offers souvenirs, refreshments, and the famous Frito Pie. More than just merchandise, it embodies memories and the community spirit, celebrating Americana and small-town charm for generations.



Saturday, August 24th 1:00pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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Pollo Loco
(Dir. Derek Bauder)
[USA]

When a young, power-hungry drug dealer discovers the love of his life has been unfaithful with a member of his crew, he and his right-hand man seek revenge.



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Eye Open
(Dir. Devin Holloway)
[USA]

In a family torn by addiction, a timid teenager named Shane attempts to find and reunite with his older brother. When he gets to his destination, his entire reality is shattered by a mind-bending discovery.



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Runaway
(Dir. Manuel Rey Hunick)
[USA]

A lonely man runs away from his life.



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Faultline
(Dir. Matthew Evans & Alex Johnson)
[USA]

Two planetary surveyors find themselves in a life-and-death struggle after an unexpected tremor.



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SYMPHONY IN C-NOTE
(Dir. Antonio Weiss)
[USA]

It’s the early eighties. A visitor enters a sleepy little town. He places a $100 bill and asks for a room. As he goes to check his room and make a phone call, his $100 makes the round of the town and people pay their debts. The bill returns to the hotel with Hope the favorite “working girl” in town. But the visitor changes his mind.



Saturday, August 24th 3:30pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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Where's Grandma?!
(Dir. John FreelyKirk)
[USA]

A kleptomaniac steals the urn of a dead woman, unaware of what it actually is.



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The Highwayman
(Dir. Derek Bensonhaver)
[USA]

A killer stalks American highways, blending in until it's too late. This film delves into murder, road rage, and perception in a society where violence is a quick reaction and human life is an afterthought, whether from a psychopath or the average driver.



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Submerged
(Dir. Matthew Evans)
[USA]

A patient in psychiatric therapy discovers that his memories of a traumatic death in the family may be shockingly inaccurate.



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Ashen Realities
(Dir. Daryl Ferrara)
[USA]

Ashen Realities (4 minutes, Experimental) is a visually captivating and contemplative film that explores the tensions between dreams and reality. It delves into the complexities of yearning for change, the allure of escapism, and the profound resilience of the human spirit, inviting audiences to reflect on these themes.



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Kairos
(Dir. Matthew Evans)
[USA]

After facing a terrible choice at the moment of a nuclear apocalypse, a desperate survivor named Adam uses a risky new approach - time travel - to try and fix his greatest mistake and save the woman he loves.



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Census
(Dir. Stephen Burhoe)
[USA]

A serial killer opens the door to a census taker. But could the census taker be a killer, as well? But, wait! There’s more…



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Twin Leaps
(Dir. Wayne Kelly)
[UK]

Twins Jimmy and Timmy revolutionize fitness with Twin Leaps, but a fallout leads Jimmy to fame and Timmy to obscurity. Jimmy's success is questioned by Timmy’s fiancée Pavi and Jimmy’s trainer Rhonda. They team up to get Timmy back on track and expose Jimmy’s flawed weight-loss methods.



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Boarding Schools
(Dir. Noor-un-nisa Touchon)
[USA]

Boarding Schools by Lyla June is a song about overcoming the oppression of boarding schools through love and empowerment. For over 150 years, Native children were forced into these schools, facing abuse and neglect. Shot at IINÁH, a space teaching Indigenous lifeways, the video highlights healing inter-generational trauma. Lyla June, an Indigenous musician and scholar, directed and performed the song.



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La Limpieza
(Dir. Cassandra Rochelle Fetters)
[USA]

A teenage boy presents his hero for a class assignment, revealing his appreciation for his immigrant mother who works as a cleaning lady.



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Twalette
(Dir. James Liakos)
[USA]

Two shy, hopeless romantics undergo a series of mishaps on their way to finding true love.



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Island in the Sun/ Bob Gatewood
(Dir. Moe Taylor)
[USA]

Music video for Bob Gatewood's 2023 release, Island in the Sun. Adult Contemporary beach music.



Saturday, August 24th 6:00pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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McCormick
(Dir. Jaydin Martinez)
[USA]

When a young caregiver is asked to take care of an elderly woman, she makes the most spine-chilling discovery of her life.



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The Other 90 Percent
(Dir. Alexandra Guillossou)
[USA]

A look at how secondary progressive affects one of the 90 percent of people afflicted with MS who will get it. Part of a potential full-length documentary, this short gives viewers a raw and quick look into the life of a woman who has battled Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years and was forced to face the reality that most of those afflicted will face—a reality where the disease wins.



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The Last Butterflies
(Dir. Patrick Rea)
[USA]

After a collection of environmental disasters lead society to the brink of collapse a young mother must find ways to survive with her small child as they navigate the near-future apocalypse.



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Moxy The Band - You Feel It Too
(Dir. Evan Doll)
[USA]

In this romantic Sci-Fi Music Video, two humanoid robots feel the push and pull of love, hesitation, and trust.



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Disposable
(Dir. Will Frankenstein)
[USA]

A film lab technician becomes obsessed with one of her customers and when an inevitable discovery forces her up against a wall, she must act quickly or lose the object of her obsession forever.



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Want to Let Go
(Dir. Leah Marina Leyva)
[USA]

There are many sides to each of us. Every corner we turn, lies a new choice. But we must accept all sides of our being. Learn how to co-exist with our shadow self, while always reaching for the light



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The Haunters
(Dir. Kaidin Saikouba Jarjusey)
[USA]

In the search for scientific truth, three arrogant ghost hunters disturb the peace and quiet of a haunted library.



Saturday, August 24th 8:30pm
Filmmaker Q&A Follwing Film Block


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Checked Bags
(Dir. Mark Cline)
[USA]

A combat veteran is traveling by a civilian airline. The airline now requires all passengers to check their emotional baggage before boarding any flight. After checking his bags, the man experiences the serenity of becoming unburdened by the guilt and trauma that he carries inside all the time.



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The Trickster
(Dir. Alex Jack)
[USA]

Pinned down and outnumbered, Amadi must make the ultimate choice and turn to the Trickster god who possesses his body. An unsteady agreement is made between him and the fractured deity. With the use of their powers, Amadi is able to overcome the mercenary group pinning himself and a band of refugees down. But these powers come at a heavy cost that Amadi must pay.



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The Art Painting
(Dir. John M. Broadhead)
[USA]

Locked in a concrete room with nothing but an easel and a toilet, a troubled man is informed that he's a world-renowned artist. It's only a matter of time until he either figures out whether he's painter Veskin Alum in the midst of a bizarre artistic process, or goes insane trying.



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IRENE
(Dir. Valerio Pampaglini)
[IT]

Irene is trapped inside her own mind, barren and empty as an abandoned house. Among broken mirrors and figures dressed in black, a song awakens something that seemed lost by now.



Sunday, August 25th - Screenplay Panel Q&A at Rob's Place at O'Niell's Pub in Nob Hill - 3:00pm
4310 Central Ave SE, Ste C Albuquerque, NM 87108
***Everyone welcome! (No pass or ticket needed)***

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Rev
(Dante Michael Savion)
[USA]

When a petty car thief gets into a Monte Carlo he finds abandoned and running, he doesn't realize he's also getting into a $500,000 drug deal gone wrong. Will he be the hero of someone else's story, or will everyone be brought down by his hidden past?



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Minding Therapy
(Ros C Johnson)
[USA]

Daryl Stone, a burnt-out therapist in Providence, faces two life-changing events: her estranged father's funeral and falling for fellow therapist Angie. Struggling with self-esteem and a dysfunctional relationship, Daryl learns disturbing family secrets while visiting her mom Nina. Amidst personal turmoil, she begins therapy, ends her toxic relationship, and embraces a promising romance with Angie. As family revelations unfold, including Nina's homophobia and her uncle Jack being gay, Daryl realizes her intimacy issues stem from her family. Ultimately, Angie’s forgiveness leads to their commitment to live together.



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GMO
(Emil Faithe) )
[USA]

In 2067, humanity is on the brink of collapse due to violence, corruption, and greed. People start dying mysteriously, and only the deep state Armed Forces know why. Geneticist Liam Whitman, grieving his astronaut father's death, is drawn into a global extinction crisis by his AI boss, Jerry. Teaming up with the eccentric Mansfield and insider Herb, Liam discovers his father is alive in another world. Seth reveals the shocking truth about a divine plan, offering humanity one last chance at redemption. As a new continent emerges, everyone must change their ways and find hope in a new day on Earth.



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Secret Messages
(Stephen Michael Kelly) )
[USA]

After a rudderless man gets mugged in DC, he travels back (or does he?) in time to the Civil War, saves lives and finds meaning, empathy, purpose, and love in his present life.



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He’s the Worst
(Liv Ramirez) )
[USA]

A New Mexican man living abroad faces a mental health crisis when his trauma manifests as a 2000s grunge rocker living in his head.



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My Town
(Lynn Elliott) )
[USA]

A local newsman reports on the who, what, where, when, and how of a racial murder but grapples with the why. This script, based on a true story from Chico, California, recounts the January 13, 1979, murder of Jimmy Lee Campbell, a black, deaf youth, by three white youths. Their defense of "diminished capacity" due to booze and pot was questionable as they specifically targeted black individuals. The killers served short jail sentences.



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Finding Harmony
(Dakota Thomas) )
[USA]

Finding Harmony tells the story of Dakota, a young boy bullied for being gay, who finds solace in music, using it to create a world where he is loved and accepted.



Sunday, August 25th - AWARDS CEREMONY at Rob's Place at O'Niell's Pub in Nob Hill - 4:30pm
4310 Central Ave SE, Ste C Albuquerque, NM 87108
***Everyone welcome! (No pass or ticket needed)***

Sunday, August 25th - AFTER PARTY immediately following Awards Ceremony at Rob's Place at O'Niell's Pub in Nob Hill
4310 Central Ave SE, Ste C Albuquerque, NM 87108
***Everyone welcome! (No pass or ticket needed)***