Las Cruces Public Schools welcomed student directors, writers, producers, actors, and film enthusiasts of all ages to Cineport 10 Allen Theatres for the 2026 Tell the Story Film Showcase. Student filmmakers walked the red carpet for their grand entrance and premiere of their very own films.
The two-night showcase, held on April 29-30, featured a wide range of student work. On the first night, non-competitive films were screened across six theaters at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., followed by an encore at 8:00 p.m.
On the second night, the competitive films were shown during the same time slots. The competition included three fast-paced and creative divisions: 168-Hour Film Competition for elementary school, 98-Hour Film Competition for middle school and the 48-Hour Film Competition for high school.
In each division, students were given specific creative challenges, including required lines and props, all within a limited timeframe. The result is a collection of innovative, entertaining, and often surprising films that highlighted both teamwork and artistic vision.
This year’s theme, “Superheroes,” inspired proud student filmmakers of all levels. LCPS is proud to announce the winners for the 2026 Tell the Story Film Showcase:
• Winners of the 168-hour film competition: Sonoma Elementary School, “Offline”
• Winners of the 98-hour film competition: Sierra Middle School, “This Changes Everything”
• Winners of the 48-hour film competition: Las Cruces High School, “Detour”
If you missed the show, you can watch all of the non-competitive and competitive films online at https://www.youtube.com/@KRENStudios.
For a recap of the 2026 Tell the Story Film Showcase, watch the highlight video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKwt-NCRJEI
Sonoma Elementary School earned its second Tell the Story Film Showcase win, following its 2025 victory. Las Cruces High School has now won best film for three consecutive years, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
The 2026 Tell the Story LCPS Film Showcase is proudly sponsored by Allen Theatres and the LCPS Foundation.
***