Festival dossier
Las Cruces, United States · Multiple structural red flags — exercise caution before submitting
The New Mexico Heritage Short Film Contest, in collaboration with the Las Cruces International Film Festival, challenges filmmakers to create short films rooted in agriculture, ranching, and rural heritage, incorporating a mandatory cultural phrase revealed at a kickoff event [nmfarmandranchmuseum.org](https://nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/new-mexico-heritage-short-film-contest/). This contest highlights contemporary storytelling to preserve and elevate New Mexico's cultural heritage, offering a platform for underrepresented stories and connecting filmmakers with audiences and industry professionals [newmexicosun.com](https://newmexicosun.com/winners-announced-for-new-mexico-farm-and-ranch-heritage-museum-short-film-contest). Winning films are screened at the Las Cruces International Film Festival, a significant event in the Southwest often called 'The Sundance of the Southwest' [lascrucesfilmfest.com](https://lascrucesfilmfest.com/about-the-festival/).
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Last updated Aug 27, 2026
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