SW New Mexico News

The United States Forest Service is set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, the nation's first designated wilderness area, in early June. More than a dozen film students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) will contribute to the event by premiering seven short documentary films as part of the Gila Film Showcase.

The showcase will be held on June 1-2 at the Silco Theater in Silver City and will serve as the centerpiece of a week-long series of festivities hosted by the U.S. Forest Service for the Centennial Celebration of the Gila Wilderness.

Professors Ilana Lapid and Kristi Drexler spearheaded this project after establishing the Gila Film School within NMSU’s Creative Media Institute. This immersive three-semester program, supported by a team of educators, resulted in not only student-produced documentaries but also a package of educational materials intended for fourth-grade students across New Mexico.

“Our goal was to connect students to the wilderness, empower the next generation of diverse environmental filmmakers, harness the power of visual storytelling for conservation education and inspire audiences of young people to love and protect the wilderness,” said Lapid, director of Gila Film School and CMI professor.

In 2022, Drexler and Lapid led 13 student filmmakers into the Gila Wilderness for a field school. Joined by Julian Alexander and Kyle Ivy who co-produced, with Jarrett Gladstone involved in postproduction, they created seven short documentaries that delve into various aspects of Gila's natural, cultural, and conservation history including Indigenous and Latino history.

This innovative program received funding from a U.S. Forest Service Youth and Veterans Engagement grant along with support from several entities including NMSU College of Arts and Sciences, NMSU’s Vice President for Research, Creativity and Economic Development, Creative Media Institute, and American Rivers.

Henry Provencio, district ranger of the Wilderness Ranger District of the Gila National Forest, praised the project. He expressed his excitement to share the films and looks forward to their incorporation into a curriculum for fourth graders across New Mexico.

The seven films will be accompanied by educational materials designed specifically for fourth graders. These resources will be distributed as part of a Digital Suitcase to fourth-grade teachers across New Mexico in honor of the Gila Centennial Celebration.

“Through these films and educational materials, we hope to inform, excite and engage youth to value and protect wild areas like the Gila Wilderness and other special places across New Mexico,” said Drexler.

During The Gila Film School, student filmmakers spent time in the field with various professionals including forest firefighters, wildlife biologists, U.S. Forest Service wranglers, trail users, archeologists, and community leaders.

Amy Lanasa, CMI professor and department head, expressed confidence that this work will have a greater impact than any of them can imagine.