New Mexico Film Studios (NMFS) held their first groundbreaking event for the first independent backlot in Southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tuesday, March 29th, 2022, on 13 acres to a crowd of local filmmakers, press, politicians, and the studio founders, David Montoya, Kurt Young, David Martinez, and Dominic Gabello.
Film executives, politicians, and the New Mexico film community came out for the groundbreaking of the new independent film studio backlot coming to Southeast Albuquerque. Guests in attendance were State Senator Michael Padilla, County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, ABQ City Councilor Pat Davis, State Representative Tara Lujan, Former ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez, Joseph Maestas PRC Commissioner and Candidate for State Auditor, Zack Quintero candidate for State Auditor
The press conference was emceed by local indigenous and Latina filmmaker, Producer, and actress, Tsailii Rogers who shared her point of view as part of the New Mexico film community, “What we are doing today is celebrating an amazing event that celebrates local filmmakers as a filmmaker in New Mexico, what we’re doing here is paving way for more opportunities for local filmmakers like myself,” said Rogers, “With this historic groundbreaking event and investment in the community, New Mexico Film Studios is filling a demand for independent soundstages, backlots, and production facilities that producers like myself can use which will bring more production projects and plenty more jobs to New Mexico.”
Rogers also pointed out that Netflix, NBCUniversal, and other big studios come to New Mexico to use the resources here in New Mexico that local New Mexico filmmakers need and NMFS is filling the gap for these filmmakers to have the opportunity to create in their state with resources that Independent filmmakers are looking for.
New Mexico Film Studios co-founder, Kurt Young, thanked the community at large and said that “David Martinez, David Montoya, and [Dominic Gabello], all of us came together with the idea to push film in a new direction take whatever we can to make it better a and we’re involved in a number of projects throughout the city,” Young continued “it’s going to be amazing, where New Mexicans begin to tell their story instead of have other people tell our story for us.”
David Montoya, NMFS CEO, shared “So what exactly is New Mexico Film Studios? New Mexico Film Studios is a network of studios going all the way from Santa Fe through Albuquerque all the way down to Las Cruces, we’re going to renovate existing space into studio space we’re going to build brand new sound stages, and we’re going to team up with our friends at IATSE and the Screen Actors Guild,” in addition to sharing the diverse opportunities this will create for New Mexicans, he continued with “This is one of those rare opportunities where we as New Mexicans are building something that’s world-class with over a hundred million dollars invested in this Studio Complex we’ll be able to be cutting edge, first-class and truly New Mexican.”
Bernalillo County commissioner, Debbie O’Malley, spoke about “Film and TV production in New Mexico was at its highest level in 2021, bringing in more than 620 Million in direct spending across 74 projects employing thousands of New Mexicans; all with the support of the Governor and the legislature in those incentives.”
Senator Michael Padilla spoke about the importance of this backlot in his district and state as he described the area “you look that way *points southeast* you’ll see Valle de Oro, the only wildlife refuge in the country that’s right in the middle of a Metropolitan area, Mesa Del Sol, which is booming right behind me… the largest high school in my district, you can see it from right up there on the hill, they filmed ‘The Avengers’ there,” he continued with “We are going to become, the worldwide international super sensation when it comes to film, and it’s because of projects like this.”
Senator Padilla is also working on a number of projects with Representative Lujan such as the Next Generation Media Academy (NGMA) that is going to fuel this industry and diversify the New Mexico economy.
City Councilor Pat Davis said “It’s about time New Mexico stood in for itself and told its own stories. Our own way in our own place and share the majesty of what we are to tell people how amazing we are and our stories and the cultural connection and the cultural piece that makes us all special.”
David Martinez, NMFS COO, concluded the press conference by sharing “it’s exciting to have a great future ahead, we’re bringing great jobs to New Mexico, we’re doing wonderful things, it’s all about the people, we’re here on the soil today and there’s nothing more exciting than that.”
After the press conference, key members of the community along with the four co-founders of the New Mexico Film Studios took the ceremonial shovels and together broke ground with the crowd cheering this symbolic gesture. Guests were also treated to coffee and scones from local favorite, Stan’s Coffee and Scones.
New Mexico Film Studios backlot will be located within 15 minutes of Albuquerque Sunport. For more information on this project, please visit www.nmfilmstudios.com
