Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, New Mexico State Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced the finalists of the 2018 New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase. The following finalists in the seven (7) categories are:

Comedy Category:
Canned Soup, Laura Gayarre-Acacio
Diva's Perfect Posse Ep. 1.1 Perfect Pumps, Christina Gopal
Dog Bachelor, Jamie Merideth
The Backroom, Albert Fry Jr.
The Love That Would Not Die 2, Devon Ludlow

Documentary Category:
How We See Them, Jesse Fisher
Nasario Remembers the Río Puerco, Shebana Coelho
Parade of Dreams, Gabe Gillette
The Mayors of Shiprock, Ramona Emeson
Wonderful Ed a Santa Fe Story, Mark Shepherd

Drama Category:
Agnosia, Christopher Horn
Chasing Sunset, Robert Posey
Pareidolia, Erick Castillo
Pieces of a Dream, Carolyn Smith
Undying, Dominique Mazire

Horror Category:
18 Minutes Of A Film That Refuses To Exist, Christian Lemons
The 7 Doors, Alex Gianopoulos
The Entrada, Mark Lewis
The Hitchhiker, Aaron Lopez

Music Video Category:
Medicine, Ted Bolton
Ruse Of Fools - Happy Song, Sherwin Lau
Memoryy - Not Over You, Shaun Hettinger
NM Roadtrip, Lizette Casas
Vanish. Abyss, Dusty Deen

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Category:
Apothecary's Cage, Josh Relic
Flux, James Perkins
Of Stars & Magic, Trevor Rogers
Saturn Return, Evan Curtis
Shift, Jac Roberts

Student Category:
Bruises, Kel Cruz
Casuist, LeRoy Grafe
Pure Democracy, Samuel Smith-Boyle
Shovel and Gore, Kristen Saiz
The Next Page, Addison Fulton

In addition to the above categories there will be awards for Best in Show, Wild Card and an Audience award.

"One of the great aspects of a healthy, vibrant film industry is the opportunities it creates for New Mexicans to tell their own stories." said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico State Film Office. "We received submissions from Roswell, Las Cruces, Lovington, Española... all over the state. The quality of all the submissions and the films that have made it to the finals are a great example of the high level of talent we have in communities across the state."

The winning films in each category will be announced at an Awards Ceremony and Networking Event on May 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm at the National Hispanic Cultural Center/Bank of American Theater in Albuquerque (1701 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102). The event will start with a networking hour where attendees can mingle. Food trucks will also be on hand for those who want to purchase food or beverage. The Awards Ceremony including a panel with last year's winners and the handing out of awards will begin at 6:30 pm.