On Wednesday, March 2, Las Cruces made independent film “All The World Is Sleeping” will open the 7th Las Cruces International Film Festival. “All the World is Sleeping” was created and born in New Mexico. The story came from seven mothers who shared their true stories with the local non-profit Bold Futures and filmmaker Ryan Lacen. Together they crafted the script for "All the World is Sleeping" which was filmed in Las Cruces.
“With the city being so film friendly, Las Cruces welcomed production by opening its doors to its talented crew, beautiful locations and to a community willing to help bring this vision to light. “ Said Las Cruces based producer Ian Simon.
“Working on an indie film schedule is always a challenge, but it was through the commitment of everyone involved that the film was finished within an indie film schedule.” Said director Ryan Lacen.
The film is about a young girl in New Mexico, Chama striving to be different from her mother. Now in her 20’s, she’s found herself falling into a similar cycle of generational addiction. This struggle threatens her balance as a Mother to her own daughter. As Chama tries to keep it all together, a harrowing accident will spiral her out of control causing her daughter to be taken from her custody. With nothing left, she’ll have to confront her past in order to fight for a future – one that can either guide her closer to getting her daughter back or lead her deeper into this dangerous cycle.
The film is directed by Ryan Lacen (“The Dust Storm”, “Save Me From Everything”), produced by Las Crucen Ian Simon, and stars Melissa Barrera (“In The Heights”, “Scream”), Jorge Garcia (“Hawaii 5-O”, “Lost”) and Jackie Cruz (“Orange Is The New Black”).
The films screens at the Allen Theaters Cineport at 7pm on March 2nd.
AWARDS:
Best Picture @ HBO NY LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
In 2017 a reproductive justice based non-profit, Bold Futures NM, gathered 7 system-impacted women with a history of substance use and pregnancy to create an artistic medium that would explore the complexities of trauma, substance use and parenting in New Mexico. Over the course of several months and hours of conversation and community building, the insight derived through this facilitated group process evolved into the foundation of an unlikely feature film highlighting characters with authenticity and heart. It was during these facilitated conversations that the women shared their experiences with filmmaker Ryan Lacen who helped bring their truth to the big screen. Over the course of each meeting rich conversations unfolded, and so did a script. This unique film was created with the aim of pushing back against the stigma faced by pregnant women and people living through addiction. "All the World is Sleeping" sheds light on the realities of addiction, and the resources that are so desperately needed for families living in cycles of addiction.
There are many films about addiction. None however have truly captured the loving relationship between a mother and daughter in the ways these seven women had experienced. This film centers the complex role of motherhood, addresses generational cycles of addiction and beautifully highlights a community that is not often represented in films. As a filmmaker whose own life has also been scarred by addiction, Ryan helped bring a unique cinematic lens while shaping these stories to create a film that would feel both singularly raw and universally connected.
The film’s main character, Chama, played by the talented actress Melissa Barrera, is an imaginative composite of the seven women that encompasses elements of their bravery and struggles all while exposing the arduous circumstances they have endured. Barrera, along with co-star Jackie Cruz, worked with the mothers on and off set to authentically capture and represent their truth. Each genuinely wanted to understand the ‘cyclical, chaotic, yet hopeful’ side of fighting addiction.
Throughout production and post-production, the seven mothers remained an integral part of guiding the film to completion. This film is an extraordinary collaboration merging the worlds of non-profit grit and movie glamour all while working alongside a community eager to see their story represented on the big screen.
"All the World is Sleeping" – both in process and content, is a film that’s raw, cerebral and beautiful that continuously honors those who lived and created it.
WHO IS BOLD FUTURES:
Bold Futures NM is a state based reproductive justice organization led by and for women and people of color. Bold Futures NM works to build communities where all have what we need to make real decisions about our own bodies and lives, and all have room to live with respect and dignity. We center people most impacted by an issue in creating the change needed in our own communities through place-based organizing, research, culture shift, and policy change.
Ticket prices for LCIFF are as follows:
For more information contact Ross Marks at rossm@nmsu.edu, or 575-646-6149. We ask that all guests please comply with the current COVID-19 New Mexico Public Health Order and wear a mask or face covering at the event unless eating or drinking in the theatre.
The seventh Las Cruces International Film Festival takes place March 2-6, and will be live and in-person at the Allen Theatres Cineport. Tickets are available at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com.
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