UNM student filmmaker to host double world premiere May 14

University of New Mexico student filmmaker Michael Anthony Kurtz hosts the second annual Kurtz Studios World Premiere on Thursday, May 14, featuring the debut of two original short films, Letter to the Blind and Abby, at the UNM Student Union Building Theater.

The event, produced by Kurtz Studios and sponsored by the UNM Film Department, will begin with a red carpet at 6 p.m., followed by remarks and a pre-screening program. The screening is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will showcase two contrasting films. Abby, a four-minute romance shot on 16mm film, follows a young man reflecting on a past relationship as he comes to terms with letting go. The project highlights the use of traditional film formats, which are less common in student and independent productions.

Letter to the Blind, a 15-minute neo-noir thriller, was filmed in Albuquerque and Washington, D.C. The film follows Bobby, a family man coerced by a government agent into acts of violence with the promise of being reunited with his family. As the situation intensifies, he faces increasingly complex moral decisions.

"Both films deal with perspective," Kurtz said. "Abby is about how we see our past, while Letter to the Blind is about how our environment can change who we become."

The production features a local cast and crew and reflects the continued growth of Albuquerque and UNM as a hub for emerging filmmakers.

The event is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $15 for non-cast and crew attendees. No RSVP is required.

Members of the media are invited to attend the red carpet and screening. Interviews with Kurtz, as well as cast and crew members, will be available before and during the event.

For more information, contact Michael Anthony Kurtz at [email protected].