Ross Kagan Marks has been nurturing future filmmakers as a professor in the Creative Media Institute at New Mexico State University for more than 14 years, all while directing award-winning feature films. Next month, he will be among seven New Mexicans to receive a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. The honorees include visual artists, a dancer, and philanthropists along with Marks.
"I am deeply proud of the creativity and dedication that these artists and contributors bring to the Land of Enchantment," said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "Their work not only enriches our lives but also reflects the vibrant and diverse spirit of New Mexico. Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts – your artistic contributions have touched every corner of our state and beyond."
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the awards, which celebrate the diversity of New Mexico’s cultural and artistic traditions, in addition to celebrating new and innovative forms of artistic expression.
The awards ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, at the St. Francis Auditorium at the New Mexico Museum of Art. An exhibition of work from the 2024 recipients will be on display in the Governor’s Gallery on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse beginning Friday, Oct. 11, with an opening reception from 2 to 3 p.m.
“I very much celebrate this award with the NMSU community, my colleagues at CMI and our wonderful students,” said Marks. “It is not only an honor for me but also a recognition of the great work we are doing at NMSU in CMI.”
Sixteen of Marks’ films have won awards at international film festivals, and he has worked with well-known actors such as Al Pacino, Brendan Fraser, Faye Dunaway, Edward James Olmos and George Lopez. Marks also has been a driving force in bringing film projects to southern New Mexico and involving NMSU’s CMI students and alumni in the process. Last fall, Marks worked with alumnus Keagan Karnes and more than three dozen NMSU film students and alumni on “Santa’s Cousin,” a film due in theatres in November.
“As a director and a producer, I enjoy working with alums and students,” Marks said. “We did another project again in June and July; Keagan came back to me with a film called ‘Brewmance,’ a romantic comedy. And we had six NMSU student interns; 75-80% of the crew were students or alumni.”
Marks is executive director and founder of the Las Cruces International Film Festival, which will celebrate its 10th year next spring. Since 2014, it has grown to become one of largest university-run film festivals in America. The festival has drawn more than 80,000 visitors worldwide since its inception.
Marks has been instrumental in elevating southern New Mexico's film industry through his role as deputy director of the New Mexico Media Arts Collective in Las Cruces. This organization aims to create career opportunities for graduates by aligning independent films produced locally with union positions.
Whether teaching or making films, Marks emphasizes storytelling's importance: “The thing I teach most is that we’re storytellers... The other thing that I love about film...is that film is ultimate collaborative medium.”