SFR Picks—Week of April 24

Cinema Different

The Santa Fe Film Festival returns

Beginning Thursday, a stellar lineup of filmmakers, actors and movies head to Santa Fe for the 24th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival, which this year boasts 110 feature-length and short films from local and international filmmakers, plus tons of other events across four days. Additionally, actors and filmmakers attending will receive awards for their contributions to the industry, such as actor and artist Val Kilmer (who is also slated to open a painting exhibition during the fest), the legendary Danny Trejo and Imaginary actress Veronica Falcón.

“Not only do we have an amazing lineup of great cinema with some incredible guests, we have the largest filmmaker participation I have seen in the past decade,” Santa Fe Film Festival Director NaNi Rivera tells SFR. “Santa Fe is going to be full of the most creative people in the entertainment industry.”

The festival’s 48 events will be spread across venues, including the Santa Fe Scottish Rite Alhambra Theater, the Jean Cocteau Cinema, Edition ONE Gallery and more. And though each screening runs $20, all-access passes for the whole shebang run $250. It’s probably best to visit santafefilmfestival.com to learn more, but read on for a number of suggestions. (Mo Charnot)

Santa Fe Film Festival: Opening Day Shorts Program: 2:30-4:30 pm Thursday, April 25. $20-$250. Jean Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Ave., (505) 466-5528

The Art of Val Kilmer: 4 pm-6:30 pm Thursday, April 25. Free. Edition ONE Gallery, 728 Canyon Road, (505) 570-5385

Opening Night Collection: 8-10 pm Thursday, April 25. $20-$250. Jean Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Ave., (505) 466-5528

Eclectic Cinema Shorts: 4-6 pm Friday, April 26. $20-$250. Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, 100 Sandoval St., (505) 988 2811

Friday Flix Mix: 8-10 pm Friday, April 26. $20-$250. Jean Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Ave., (505) 466-5528

Variety Shorts Program: 1:30-3:30 pm Saturday, April 27. $20-$250. Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, 100 Sandoval St., (505) 988 2811

New Mexico Shorts A: 9-11:30 am Sunday, April 28. $20-$250. Santa Fe Scottish Rite Alhambra Theater, 463 Paseo de Peralta., (505) 982-4414

New Mexico Shorts B: Noon-2 pm Sunday, April 28. $20-$250. Santa Fe Scottish Rite Alhambra Theater, 463 Paseo de Peralta., (505) 982-4414

Closing Day Shorts Program: 2:30-4:30 pm Sunday, April 28. $20-$250. Santa Fe Scottish Rite Alhambra Theater, 463 Paseo de Peralta., (505) 982-4414

We Want to Believe

Though one could argue Santa Fe’s most excellent love affair with hardcore and punk rock went by the wayside some years ago, bands remain that are working hard to keep it real—if you know where to find them. This week, set your eyes on Midtown DIY space Ghost, where local act Illegal Aliens is set to bring its particular blend of high-energy, fast-paced punk/riffy and brutal metal-adjacent breakdown prowess to bear. Oh, it’s gonna shred. Post-punk acts Weep Wave and Leave the Lights On kick off the show. (Alex De Vore)

Illegal Aliens with Weep Wave and Leave the Lights On: 8 pm Thursday, April 25. $10. Ghost, 2899 Trades West Road., instagram.com/ghost_santafe

Wizened

Of course, the metal scene in Santa Fe continues to thrive with more bands than we could ever list here. But let us focus on enduring power metal group Savage Wizdom as they launch a new record. Who’s Laughing Now contains another crop of anthemic metal bangers from Savage Wizdom, and is the band’s first release since 2014′s A New Beginning. “Everything was right to release it,” singer Steve Montoya says. “The songs were done and everybody was ready to do it—it’s been long enough.” Carrion Kind and Darken the Day open with their own juds and chugs and broooooowwwwrs. (ADV)

Savage Wizdom Album Release Show with Carrion Kind and Darken the Day: Saturday, April 27. $10. Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery, 2791 Agua Fria St., (505) 303-3808

Meet Them METZ

Is there some kind of pheromone in the air this week causing Santa Fe’s venues to double down on shows that rock super-hard? There must be, because in addition to the shows at Ghost and Tumbleroot, Meow Wolf is getting into the punk game with Toronto’s METZ. Fans of Fugazi, Quicksand or even Japanese weirdos The Pillows are gonna want to get down with this ASAP; bands that so effortlessly meld the lion’s share of punk rock’s countless sub-genres are few and far-between, and METZ knows just how to do it. (ADV)

METZ: 7 pm Monday, April 29. $20-$25. Meow Wolf, 1352 Rufina Circle, (505) 395-6369