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Southern New Mexico is about to get a big boost to its film industry. A project that will attract filmmakers and television producers to the region and also provide opportunities for New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College students interested in learning more about the film and television business broke ground Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The $15 million Arrowhead Studios project kicked off with a ceremony hosted by NMSU’s Arrowhead Center.
“Las Cruces was just recognized as one of the best places in America to be a moviemaker, and the Arrowhead Park Studios amplify that appeal,” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said during the ceremony. “The soundstage complex will offer hands-on internships for our students while serving both English and Spanish-language productions, better positioning New Mexico to compete in markets on both sides of the border.”
In her remarks to attendees, Lujan Grisham thanked Sen. Jeff Steinborn, who is the co-founder and board president of Film Las Cruces, for his relentless work in making the project possible.
“I will tell you that whatever you do, if you don’t put it all on the line for the things you believe in, you will never be successful,” Steinborn said. “That’s what we did here. I can’t tell you how special and historic of a day this is here in Las Cruces.”
Valerio Ferme, the president of NMSU, thanked everyone responsible for making the Arrowhead Studios project possible and shared his hope it will create great opportunities for students and the state’s film industry.
“Obviously the enthusiasm that this area has for film, for the development of film and for the creation of a workforce that, in fact, can sustain the film industry and make it even better is something that I hold very dear,” Ferme said. “One of the big things that I have on my plate is developing cooperative education opportunities for our students, and I know that the film industry has been doing this here, so it is really apropos that we have this soundstage.”
Wayne Savage, executive director of Arrowhead Park, pointed out that NMSU will be one of few universities to collocate film and digital media programs with industry partners.
“We’re excited for the impact this will have not only for the trajectory of our students’ careers, but for the economic impact in our local community,” Savage said.
In June 2024, the NMSU Board of Regents unanimously approved an agreement between the New Mexico Economic Development Department, NMSU and Arrowhead Center Inc. to build a 36,400-square-foot soundstage complex to be used for film and television productions. NMSU and DACC creative media students will also have opportunities for paid internships working on these productions, a key component of the project.
“The new Arrowhead Studios is a game-changer for southern New Mexico,” said Ross Marks, executive director of the Las Cruces International Film Festival and professor in NMSU’s Creative Media Institute. “It provides us with a full-fledged studio and production partner who will create jobs for NMSU and DACC students and graduates.”
Marks said he anticipates having eight to 10 films produced each year at the studio with a significant economic impact for the region.
“The film industry is southern New Mexico is flourishing,” he said. “One of the few things holding us back was not having a studio and soundstage. I am very proud of my work with the governor, NMSU and the New Mexico Media Arts Collective to make this stage and studio a reality.”
The project is funded by NMEDD as part of the statewide Media Arts Collective Initiative to grow the state’s film industry. Once completed, NMSU will lease the studio to a company that will be responsible for operations and maintenance and will either film their own productions at the complex or lease out the complex to other production companies. The studio is expected to be completed in December 2026.
The agreement between NMSU, Arrowhead Center Inc. and NMEDD is for a total of 12 years, including the two-year development phase and a 10-year operations phase, after which NMSU can decide whether to continue with operation of the complex as a film studio or convert it to serve other purposes.
