According to press coordinator Marissa Lopez, two made-in-New-Mexico films, Blind Horizon and Thief of Time, are among the 14 offerings of new films at the Taos Picture Show, a celebration of cinema from around the world scheduled to take place April 1-4.

Blind Horizon, shot in Las Vegas, New Mexico, stars Val Kilmer as a man racing against the clock to stop an assassination. But that's not his only problem. He also suffers from amnesia. Others in the cast are Sam Shepard, Neve Campbell, Faye Dunaway and Amy Smart. Thief of Time, filmed in Albuquerque and adapted from Tony Hillerman's novel, co-stars Wes Studi and Adam Beach as detectives hoping to unravel a case involving murder and pottery poachers.

Festival Director Jonathan Slator points out that these two films highlight an exceptionally strong slate of films. "As I only committed to doing the festival in January it was essential to find experienced programmers. Kelly (Clement) and Jason (Silverman) have put together a fantastic program in very short notice."

Personally, I can vouch for Kelly Clement and Jason Silverman as competent festival professionals. They previously served as programmers for the Taos Talking Picture Show, one of my favorite film festivals. They've also worked on the San Francisco Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, the Native Cinema Showcase and for organizations including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and SITE Santa Fe.

The Taos Picture Show inaugural line-up also includes:

Evil --  an Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language film
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster -- the latest documentary by master filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
The Return -- a Golden Globe nominee and winner of the Discovery Award at the European Film Awards
Everyday People -- an official selection of the New Directors/New Films showcase at Lincoln Center
Bright Leaves -- the latest offering from cult nonfiction filmmaker Ross McElwee
Song for a Raggy Boy -- a drama starring Aidan Quinn that has won 10 international film festival awards
20h17 rue Darling --  an official selection of the Cannes Semaine de la Critique
Festival Express --  a concert film about a 1970 Canadian rock-and-roll tour featuring the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin

In addition, acclaimed foreign films Valentin, To Kill a King, I Am David, and The Middle of the World will be screened at this diverse festival.

All screenings will be held at the Taos Center for the Arts. Passes for the Taos Picture Show are priced at $200 and $100.  Individual tickets for each show, at $10, will be sold at the door 30 minutes prior to showtime. The Friday Fiesta, to be held at the Kachina Cabaret, will honor the festival guests. Most films will be presented by a director or actor. Tickets will be sold through the Taos Center for the Arts box office at 505-758-2052; general festival information is available at 505-751-3658.

For more details, including descriptions of festival films, go to www.taospictureshow.com.

(Photo: Wes Studi and Adam Beach in Thief of Time)