El Paso Film Festival named one of top 50 festivals worldwide for 2024

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
Updated ·3 min read

The El Paso Film Festival is one of the top 50 Film Festivals worldwide, worth their entry fee, according to MovieMaker Magazine.

The list is curated by the editors of the magazine, which serves as a filmmaker’s resource to identify which film festivals are on the rise and offer opportunities to further enhance a filmmaker’s career.

“Being recognized as one of the Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee is a testament to the incredible work, growth and impact of the El Paso Film Festival,” said Carlos F. Corral, artistic director for the El Paso festival. “This acknowledgment underscores our commitment to providing a platform that celebrates and elevates independent filmmakers, and we are proud to be that beacon for El Paso.”

The Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso is the venue for the annual classic film festival, as well as concerts, plays and other events throughout the year.
The Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso is the venue for the annual classic film festival, as well as concerts, plays and other events throughout the year.

The El Paso Film Festival, founded by Corral with the support of the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation, is now in its seventh year. It has attracted a diverse audience of film aficionados, storytellers and filmmaking executives.

Tim Molloy, editor-in-chief of MovieMaker Magazine, said in a press release that the El Paso Film Festival is one of the fastest-rising and friendliest film festivals in the country. It is also in a fascinating location near the U.S.-Mexican border.

Carlos Corral is the Artistic Director of the El Paso Film Festival. The festival was recently named one of the best 50 film festivals in the country.
Carlos Corral is the Artistic Director of the El Paso Film Festival. The festival was recently named one of the best 50 film festivals in the country.

"Artistic Director Carlos F. Corral and Executive Director Andrea Calleros do an excellent job of making everyone feel welcome and recognized, frequently handing out surprise awards to filmmakers at the end of their screenings,” Molloy said.

One of those surprise awards went to local filmmaker Robert Holguin for his documentary feature "Blood, Sweat, and Beers" in 2023. Holguin was awarded the El Paso Filmmaker Award and the Audience Award.

Holguin is a veteran journalist at KFOX-14 news station and filmmaker well-known for his Emmy-award-winning show "Built in the Borderland." His documentary feature follows The Sloppy Boys, an aspiring comedy rock group, on their journey from Los Angeles to West Texas.

Channel 14-KFOX news anchor and filmmaker Robert Holguin, center, won two awards at the El Paso Film Festival 2023 for his film, "Blood, Sweat and Beers." Holguin credits the festival for the documentary being included in The Popcorn List.
Channel 14-KFOX news anchor and filmmaker Robert Holguin, center, won two awards at the El Paso Film Festival 2023 for his film, "Blood, Sweat and Beers." Holguin credits the festival for the documentary being included in The Popcorn List.

"I've been a longtime fan of Carlos and the work he has done to grow this remarkable festival. And as a local filmmaker, it was incredibly meaningful to be included in last year's edition,” Holguin said in the release. “And because of the festival, my documentary was recently included in The Popcorn List, which was an incredible honor and resulted in added interest and increased buzz as we prepare to finalize distribution."

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Actress Helen Hunt speaks at the El Paso Classic Film Festival before a showing of her 1997 film "As Good As It Gets" on Saturday, July 29, 2023.
Actress Helen Hunt speaks at the El Paso Classic Film Festival before a showing of her 1997 film "As Good As It Gets" on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

When is El Paso Film Festival 2024

The seventh annual El Paso Film Festival will be held Sept. 26-28 at the Philanthropy Theater, The El Paso Museum of Art, and the El Paso convention center. The festival will feature a selection of short and feature films by local, regional and national filmmakers. VIP Badges and Film Passes will be available starting May 2024 for purchase.

Returning partners for this year’s festival include Paso Del Norte Community Foundation, El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commission, MindWarp Films, Losita Productions, El Paso Cardiac and the Rio Bravo Film Fund.

Academy Award nominees Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross speak at the El Paso Community Foundation’s 12th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival Friday, Aug. 2, at the Plaza Theater in El Paso.
Academy Award nominees Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross speak at the El Paso Community Foundation’s 12th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival Friday, Aug. 2, at the Plaza Theater in El Paso.

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Information: www.elpasofilmfestival.org

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Film Festival named one of best worldwide by MovieMaker