New Mexico Announces $1.5M Film Training Center in Santa Fe

UPDATE: New Mexico officials have just announced a groundbreaking initiative to enhance the film industry workforce with a new $1.5 million training center at Santa Fe Community College. This project, aimed at creating a dedicated educational back lot for film and television students, is set to occupy 50 acres near the college, marking a significant investment in the state’s cinematic future.

Aspiring director Sean Montoya, a Santa Fe resident, expressed his excitement about the project: “Just being able to work as students and have this safe environment, and to have people behind us to guide us through this process, that’s really exciting for me.” The facility will not only serve students but also local industry professionals and may attract major productions to the area.

New Mexico has long been a hotspot for film, thanks to tax incentives that lure Hollywood productions. However, recent data from the New Mexico Film Office shows a decline in production levels. The state reported $323.2 million in direct spending from film productions in fiscal year 2025, a drop from $874.6 million in fiscal year 2022.

Despite these challenges, the new training center represents a pivotal opportunity to revitalize the local film industry. The project is backed by significant funding from Santa Fe County, which has allocated $1 million towards the initiative, leveraging an additional $250,000 from the city and $200,000 from the state legislature for site infrastructure.

This facility will primarily function as an educational hub, training students in crucial skills such as set construction, art direction, and production design. The Stagecoach Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to film career pathways, and the IATSE Local 480 union, which represents stage employees, will also play vital roles in the training program.

In a statement, George R.R. Martin, bestselling author and long-time Santa Fe resident, voiced his support for the project, highlighting the need for a modern back lot that offers diverse filming opportunities. “I’ve been saying for ages that what we need here is a back lot that is not a Western town,” Martin said. “This will be something different, and different kinds of productions can come here.”

The project is expected to break ground soon under the auspices of Mosaica Inc., a research park organization at Santa Fe Community College. The vision has been in the works for over a decade, according to Milton Riess, chair of the Film and Digital Arts Department at the college. “We need to make this into a back lot someday,” Riess remarked, reflecting on his long-held aspirations for workforce development in the film sector.

As New Mexico continues to evolve as a premier filming location, this initiative promises to enhance the state’s crew base and industry presence. The training center will also align with the state’s film production tax-credit program, making it eligible for additional funding when not being used for educational purposes.

With the film industry facing uncertainty nationwide, this project represents a beacon of hope and opportunity for aspiring filmmakers in New Mexico. Students trained here will be equipped to enter various roles in the industry, from location managers to camera operators and beyond, filling critical gaps in the workforce.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting development unfolds in Santa Fe, where the future of film is being crafted right now.