NMSA News:
SANTA FE— New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) announces the launch of its innovative Film & Cinematic Storytelling department.
This is a comprehensive four-year high school curriculum designed to prepare New Mexico’s young people to become the next generation of filmmakers, creators, designers, and digital storytellers. The new program complements five art departments already in existence at the school: Creative Writing & Literature, Dance, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.
“New Mexico has always been a place of powerful stories, but too often our young people haven’t had the access, training, and tools to tell those stories on their own terms,” NMSA Art Institute President Cindy Montoya said. “We’re part of changing that through building a foundational program for New Mexico youth to shape the future of film and digital media with their fresh perspectives and authentic voices.”
Why This Program Matters
While New Mexico hosts major film and television productions, generating over $855 million in direct spending in 2023, the state’s young people—particularly from rural, tribal, and underserved communities—remain largely absent from creative leadership positions. National statistics show that only 7% of film directors are women, fewer than 5% are people of color, and Indigenous creators remain virtually invisible in mainstream media. NMSA’s new Film & Cinematic Storytelling department directly confronts these disparities by providing intensive, pre-professional-level training to New Mexico students regardless of their zip code or background.
“Every story that gets told shapes how we see ourselves and each other,” said NMSA’s Head of School, Eric Crites. The statewide high school currently includes students from 55 New Mexico communities. “When young people from Taos, Española, Gallup, or Truth or Consequences learn to tell stories visually through their own cinematic creations, they’re not just learning a craft—they are becoming integral members of our state’s vibrant film ecosystem.”
Unique Program Features
Unlike traditional film programs that focus narrowly on Hollywood-style production, NMSA’s Film & Cinematic Storytelling curriculum embraces multiple forms of media creation that center on oral and visual storytelling. Students will explore documentary filmmaking, narrative fiction, animation, game design, and other experimental media—all while staying grounded in the art of story itself. This approach validates the storytelling wisdom students bring from their own communities while connecting them to professional media-making tools, techniques, and industries.
“We start with the question: whose story is this, and who gets to tell it?” explains Art Institute President, Cindy Montoya. “That critical lens matters, whether you’re making a documentary about water rights or creating a short sci-fi piece. There are ethics and responsibilities embedded in creating digital media.”
Preparing for Industry and Independence
The program will culminate in senior capstone projects that prepare students for film school scholarships, festival recognition, and industry opportunities. NMSA Film & Cinematic Storytelling students will graduate with robust portfolios, festival submission experience, and proficiency in industry-standard tools including professional cameras, editing software, game engines, and immersive media technologies.
Critically, students also learn sustainable career models—how to freelance, write budgets, apply for grants, work collaboratively, and create hybrid careers that allow them to stay in or return to New Mexico while doing meaningful creative work.
“We need New Mexican stories told by New Mexicans,” Head of School, Eric Crites said. “This program isn’t just training individuals—it’s building a community of creators who will transform what stories get told and how they’re told for decades to come.”
Application Information
Current 8th and 9th graders from throughout the state with an interest in film and digital arts are encouraged to apply by Jan. 23, 2026, for the 2026/2027 academic year.
In-person Placement Workshops will take place in February at NMSA, and all prospective students will be sent admissions status notifications Feb. 27, 2026.
For more information, contact Adelma Aurora Hnasko, NMSA Film & Cinematic Storytelling Project Manager at ahnasko@nmschoolforthearts.org.
About New Mexico School for the Arts
The New Mexico School of Arts is New Mexico’s only tuition free, statewide, public arts high school. NMSA provides intensive, pre-professional training in the arts to talented young people from across New Mexico. Through rigorous academic and artistic education, the school prepares students for college, careers, and creative lives while celebrating New Mexico’s diverse cultural heritage. NMSA students complete a dual curriculum in academics and the arts leading to a New Mexico high school diploma.
Students attend college-preparatory academic classes from 9:10 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. and participate in their respective arts block from 2:15-4:55 p.m.. NMSA provides a free 5 or 7-day on-site residential program to students who live more than 65 miles from Santa Fe.