New Mexico Day at the FilmUSA Pavilion spotlights one of the most dynamic and distinctly American film ecosystems in the world
CANNES, France, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the New Mexico Film Office will host New Mexico Day at the FilmUSA Pavilion during the 79th Festival de Cannes, bringing the state's film commissioner, production leaders, and filmmakers to the Croisette for a day of conversation, connection, and celebration of the Land of Enchantment.
Held inside the FilmUSA Pavilion at the Village International Riviera (#107), the day unfolds across four sessions: from morning coffee with the Film Commissioner, to an industry panel on building production in the state, to a filmmakers' conversation about why storytellers return to New Mexico again and again, capped by an evening reception celebrating the people behind the state's film industry.
Why New Mexico
For more than two decades, New Mexico has been one of the most creatively and economically significant production states in the country. The state's Film Production Tax Credit (25 percent to 40 percent, refundable, with a 10 percent rural uplift) has supported thousands of jobs and has generated more than $3 billion in direct economic impact over the past five years. In 2026, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces were all named among the best places to live and work as a filmmaker by MovieMaker Magazine.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Oppenheimer, No Country for Old Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Dark Winds, The Cleaning Lady, Eddington, and Vince Gilligan's science-fiction series Pluribus all share a setting: New Mexico, where landscape, light, and a deep, skilled crew base have shaped some of the most influential American storytelling of the last quarter century.
"New Mexico's film incentive program is one of the most established, competitive, and reliable in the United States," said Steve Graham, New Mexico Film Office director. "New Mexico has a longstanding reputation for cultivating a highly skilled, reliable, and versatile film community. We've laid the foundation to a film industry that continues to grow."
About the FilmUSA Pavilion
The FilmUSA Pavilion at the Village International Riviera is the official U.S. presence at the Marché du Film, which runs May 12 through May 21, 2026. The Pavilion serves as a home base for U.S. film offices and industry partners throughout the market.
"The FilmUSA Pavilion exists because U.S. production deserves a serious presence at the Marché du Film," said Katie Pryor, President of FilmUSA. "New Mexico is one of the clearest examples of what sustained state investment in the screen economy can produce: a deep crew base, world-class infrastructure, and a generation of productions that have shaped American storytelling. New Mexico showing up at Cannes the way they are tells you exactly how seriously they take their place in the global industry. Bringing that story to the Marché is exactly the purpose of the FilmUSA Pavilion."
New Mexico Day — Thursday, May 14, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Croissants with the Commissioner — an informal morning gathering over coffee and croissants.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM • Q&A with the New Mexico Film Office — a conversation on why to film in New Mexico.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM • Where Story Begins: Filmmaking in New Mexico — filmmakers and creatives on storytelling in the state.
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM • Made in New Mexico: A Film Industry Event — end the day with the New Mexico Film Office and partners.
All sessions are open to Marché du Film accredited attendees at the FilmUSA Pavilion, Village International Riviera.
About the New Mexico Film Office
The New Mexico Film Office, a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, is the official resource for film, television, commercial, and multimedia production in the Land of Enchantment. As the first film office created to market an entire state to the industry, NMFO has led the way for over 50 years. Learn more at nmfilm.com.
About FilmUSA
FilmUSA is a national 501(c)(6) trade association representing more than 120 U.S. film commissions. Through federal policy advocacy, international market presence, and industry partnerships, FilmUSA strengthens the U.S. screen economy. Its flagship international presence is the FilmUSA Pavilion at the Marché du Film in Cannes. Learn more at FilmUSA.org.
SOURCE Film USA
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