April 30, 2026 | Filed under: News
At SXSW 2026, New Mexico showed up through the voices, ideas and collaborations of the people shaping today’s film industry.
In partnership with the Technology and Innovation Office (TIO) and NM Economic Development Department, the New Mexico House showcased New Mexico's growing creative and technology industries.
At the New Mexico House, creators and industry leaders gathered for "From Script to Scale: Constructing the Business of Storytelling in New Mexico."
The conversation explored how location, talent and creative vision come together — highlighting how New Mexico’s landscapes and experienced crews support projects from concept to completion.
The New Mexico-filmed "He Bled Neon" premiered at the festival. Drew Kirsch and Nate Bolotin — film director and producer — spoke about filming in Albuquerque and how the production utilized the state's film incentives.
Bolotin said the incentives and crew members both played a big role in making the movie in New Mexico. He touched on how the film used the Film Crew Advancement Program, which allows the production to hire a New Mexico resident in a higher position.
"We're trying to figure out how to, especially in the indie sphere, deliver a film that can make its investors their money back and be something that's actually fruitful," Bolotin said.
Kirsch knew the location had to double for Las Vegas, Nevada, and said Albuquerque had "so much character, so much texture."
Across SXSW, that same story carried forward. At the featured session "Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus," Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn, and their collaborators reflected on the creative partnerships built in Albuquerque — demonstrating how a place can support not just a single production, but an evolving body of work.
Ahead of the session, connections were made with industry voices, which looks promising for future New Mexico projects.
Together, these moments reflect what continues to define New Mexico: a creative environment shaped by collaboration, continuity, and the people who choose to tell their stories here.