Fan-made Star Wars short film premieres at NHCC

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Local filmmakers are taking Star Wars fans in the metro to a galaxy far, far away.

Two production companies from New Mexico are hosting a world premiere of the fan-made film, Star Wars: Rendezvous, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

It’s one of the first events at the NHCC after a car smashed into the venue last month.

Organizers expect over 500 people to attend the event. As fan films continue to grow in popularity, Brent Peterson with Antigravity Films carries a deep connection with the Star Wars universe.

“I lost my 7-year-old son to cancer some time ago and he was a huge Star Wars fan, as am I, and so this film became a way to honor him and be a film that the both of us would love to watch together. so that’s really what drove this film from a very personal standpoint,” Peterson said.

The three-year project has been stirring some buzz after photos leaked online last year.

The New Mexico production was shooting in the middle of the desert when a group of hikers took photos and posted them online.

“It blew up the internet, especially on all the Star Wars fan sites,” Peterson said.

“Because of the quality of the costumes and the production, they started thinking it was the Ahsoka Disney+ show that’s coming out next week, we got some free buzz online,” Peterson said.

With fan-made films growing in popularity, Peterson says it’s a fantastic way for an independent filmmaker to get their work out there to be seen.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Following the premiere, fans can check out the short film on YouTube.

Since fan films cannot make a profit, the event is free. For more information, click here.