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We invite you to collaborate with New Mexico State University, Arrowhead Center, and Doña Ana Community College in celebrating creativity and innovation as drivers of positive economic and social growth.
Forget the traditional frame.
The 10X25 Vertical Storytelling Challenge asks creators to produce an original, connected three-episode series designed specifically for the 9:16 vertical screen.
Narrative. Documentary. Animation. Comedy. Horror. Experimental. Hybrid.
The format is vertical. What you do with it is up to you.
Each episode can run up to 90 seconds and must connect to one story, concept, or subject. Teams will also incorporate a required creative element and line of dialogue revealed when the challenge begins.
Registration Opens — September 25
Challenge Begins — October 2
Submission Deadline — October 21 at 8:00 PM MST
Screening + Judging — October 23
Awards — October 24
Two days of creativity, storytelling, film, performance, workshops, and conversation.
10X25 brings together students, artists, filmmakers, designers, educators, and creative professionals from across the region to share ideas, try something new, show their work, and connect with one another.
Come for a session. Stay for the festival.
10X25 is a gathering of creative people and creative ideas.
Over two days, Cholla Hall becomes a place to hear from working creatives, join conversations, participate in hands-on workshops, experience live performance, watch original films, and meet others doing creative work throughout our region.
Filmmakers. Artists. Designers. Animators. Writers. Performers. Photographers. Students. Educators.
Saturday is about getting involved. Join working creatives for an afternoon of workshops designed to share skills, ideas, and creative approaches.
1:00 PM — Public Speaking Workshop
Julian
Build confidence, strengthen your presentation skills, and learn how to better connect with an audience.
2:00 PM — The Jason Experience
Details coming soon.
3:00 PM — Cinematography Workshop
Explore visual storytelling through camera, lighting, composition, and creative decision-making.
4:00–6:00 PM — Vertical Storytelling Challenge Showcase + Awards
Celebrate the creators behind this year’s challenge and find out who takes home Best Vertical Series, Most Creative Use of Vertical Storytelling, and Audience Choice.
After Party / Film Las Cruces Mixer
Details coming soon.
You don’t have to be a filmmaker.
You don’t have to be a professional.
You don’t even have to know exactly what you’re looking for.
Come hear an idea. Learn something. Watch something. Meet somebody. Make something.
That’s 10X25.
Welcome to an exciting event focused on creativity, innovation, education, and entrepreneurship.
In 1965, a Las Cruces English professor premiered The Devil’s Mistress at the Rio Grande Theatre. Then it disappeared for decades. Filmmaker Julia Smith shares the story of rediscovering this forgotten Western — and what it reveals about the power of outsider and regional cinema to reshape our cultural myths, challenge mainstream history, and open hidden futures for art and identity.
