News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  08/22/2023

Elizabeth Avellan Announced as Special Guest of the 2023 El Paso Film Festival 

EL PASO – The El Paso Film Festival has announced its 2023 programming line-up. The festival is scheduled to start Thursday September 28, 2023 through Saturday September 30, 2023 at the Philanthropy Theater, The El Paso Museum of Art, and El Paso Convention Center in downtown El Paso. 

Producer Elizabeth Avellan and Director Lance Larson will be presenting their newest film, Deadland, Thursday September 28 @ 7:00pm as the opening night film of the 2023 film festival. Deadland is an elevated thriller where a US border patrol agent tries to apprehend the ghost of his father, a grave decision that will haunt him forever.

“The original idea for Deadland was born from a short film script I wrote about magical realism in the U.S./Mexican border titled El Paso,” said Larson. “The city of El Paso plays a pivotal role in the film and it brings me great pleasure to screen the film at the El Paso Film Festival.”

Deadland had its World Premiere earlier this year at SXSW 2023 as part of the Narrative Spotlight category. Veteran Producer, Elizabeth Avellan, whose producing portfolio includes Robert Rodriguez’s Hypnotic and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, lead the charge in bringing Deadland to the big screen.

“I am excited to participate in the El Paso Film Festival for the second consecutive year,“ said Avellan. “And this year we are bringing our film Deadland. I cannot imagine a festival run for this film without screening it for the good people of El Paso.”

Carlos Corral, the founder and artistic director of the El Paso Film Festival, is excited to be returning once again to El Paso’s beautiful downtown and being given the opportunity to continue the annual tradition of bringing local, regional, and national filmmakers together.

“We’re all very excited opening this year’s festival with Elizabeth’s latest film,” said Corral. “Our organization has also teamed up with Creative El Paso and Destination El Paso to bring several industry professionals to the borderland.”

The independent film festival is entering its sixth year and continues to expand its footprint in downtown El Paso as more and more filmmakers discover the unique destination.

"By coordinating with the El Paso Film Festival, our Second Annual Creating Ways Conference can reach a larger audience" notes Drew Mayer-Oakes, El Paso Film & Creative Industries Commissioner.  "We can capitalize on the amazing guests the festival brings to El Paso and bring local and industry creatives together to participate in our free, educational and informational forum." 

Join us for the sixth annual El Paso Film Festival at the Philanthropy Theater, The El Paso Museum of Art, and El Paso Convention Center September 28 - 30, 2023 as audiences gain a front row seat and behind the “screen” knowledge of a selection of short and feature films by local, regional, and national filmmakers. VIP Badges and Film Passes are now on sale, for the general public via the El Paso Film Festival website.

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

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