Everyone enjoys seeing movies and live entertainment. If you’re a film buff like my husband and I are, then you probably already know about the New Mexico Filmmaker’s Showcase. However, you may not know about two great opportunities to see the winners for free.

This weekend you have two options if you are interested in award-winning NM films.

First, take a quick two hour afternoon drive to Ruidoso on Friday to see the seven locally created winning movies at the Eastern New Mexico University at Ruidoso. The highlight of the event features thew winning documentary “Flamenco School,”(see trailer below) a documentary that provides insight into the National Institute of Flamenco and its founder Eva Encinias-Sandoval.

The remaining short films range in content from comedy animation, horror and documentary.

They include:

• "Shakespeare's Women," - a short film of essential female monologues delivered by local actresses with commentary

• "I Can't Wait," - a music video for artist Alex Carbonel

• "Baby Monitor," - a drama about a mom tormented by phantom crying from her baby monitor, written by Santa Fean, Jocelyn Jansons

• "Torcida," - about a defiant teenager who finds herself unexpectedly trapped in a brutal underworld

• "The Astronomer's Sun," - a short stop-animation film about Henry, his bear, and what it means to be human

• "Energy Tap Out," - a comedic documentary on the mixed-martial arts fighter Rex Sharpe who takes energy conservation to the extreme

Albuquerque natives Brent Morris, who directed the winning documentary "Flamenco School," and Adrien Colón, who directed the winning comedy "Energy Tap Out," will be on hand to discuss the influences and ideas for their films, and will answer questions from the audience. Trish Lopez, program director for New Mexico Filmmakers, will also be on hand for the event.

The screenings will take place in the newly renovated ENMSU-Ruidoso White Mountain Annex, 203 E. White Mountain Drive at 6 p.m. directly following an auction that starts at 4 p.m.

If you aren’t looking for a weekend trip to Ruidoso, you can also attend CineMatinee, hosted by the Mesilla Valley Film Society at the Fountain Theatre.

At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, the MVFS and the NM State Film Office are offering a free special feature and will screen the same seven winning films from the showcase.

The New Mexican Filmmakers showcase is free to the public. Regular CineMatinee tickets cost $4 for non-MVFS members and $1 for MVFS members.

Learn more about MVFS at http://mesillavalleyfilm.org/.

Also, if none of these are of interest to you, but you’re still curious about possible things to do in Las Cruces this weekend, perhaps you could check out one of the options presented in the link below:

http://www.guidetolascruces.com/theaters_and_venues.php