Dead Letters

Production Announcement

New Mexico Film Office Announces Margo Martindale-led Feature Film “Dead Letters” Wraps Production
Debut from director David Drake features stellar ensemble cast

The New Mexico Film Office announced today that the feature film, "Dead Letters,” has officially wrapped in Las Cruces and Ruidoso in March.

“Having a film like ‘Dead Letters’ shooting in Las Cruces is very exciting,” Elijah Villalpando, Las Cruces film liaison, said. “Not only is it showcasing our beautiful city but using so many of our local crew gives them even more opportunities to grow within the film industry.”

The film stars three-time Emmy-winner Margo Martindale, who also serves as executive producer, alongside an acclaimed ensemble that includes Emmy-nominee Stephen Root, Cole Sprouse, Oscar-nominee Yalitza Aparicio, Jefferson White, and honorary Oscar recipient Wes Studi.

Produced by Sam Bank and Hélène Sifre of Braintrust and Juliet Berman of Spiral Stairs Entertainment, “Dead Letters” is an intimate portrait of an American long-haul truck driver who is forced to confront her past, present, and future as she faces the potential parole of her daughter’s murderer.

“When I was growing up, my dad drove a truck out of the Hunts Point Cooperative Market in the Bronx, and many of my earliest memories of work came from riding shotgun on his delivery round in the Summer months,” Drake stated. “After high school, I started a family and spent years in menial jobs before finally zigzagging my way into filmmaking. In my writing and directing, I like to explore the lives of working-class characters, often directly drawn from my own experiences and family background.

An exclusive first-look image featuring Martindale gives audiences a glimpse into the film's intimate, emotionally charged world.

"'Dead Letters' is a powerful example of the kind of impactful storytelling that New Mexico attracts," Steve Graham, director of the New Mexico Film Office, said. "We are proud that our state's talented film professionals, stunning locations, and 10% uplift for filming in locations like Las Cruces and Ruidoso draw productions like this that entertain and shed light on important human experiences."

The production employed over 100 New Mexicans, including 65 resident New Mexico crew members, three principal actors, and 80 background talent.

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About Braintrust

Led by producers Sam Bank and Hélène Sifre, Braintrust is a film, TV, and animation company developing projects with British talent for global audiences. Recent work includes “Twende” for Showmax, “Fruits of Death” with Film4, and “The Big Sheep” with Cornerstone Films. Sifre received a BAFTA nomination for “Blue Jean,” which premiered at Venice and won multiple BIFAs, including Breakthrough Producer. Braintrust is represented by Gersh.

About Spiral Stairs Entertainment

Founded in 2023 by producer Juliet Berman, Spiral Stairs quickly established itself with two feature films: “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” (2024) and “Griffin in Summer,” which won multiple awards at the Tribeca Film Festival and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Previously, Berman served as Head of Production at Treehouse Pictures, overseeing films such as “Mediterranea,” “Sand Castle,” and “Set It Up,” which became a global hit on Netflix.