A Local Training Ground for Feature Filmmaking
The Las Cruces production of Solitary gave current and former New Mexico State University students professional experience on a feature film while contributing to the area's effort to build a year-round production workforce. More than two dozen NMSU students worked on the project, KTSM 9 News reported. Marks, an associate professor at NMSU's Creative Media Institute, said graduates are increasingly able to remain in Las Cruces because film work is available locally rather than leaving for Albuquerque, according to KTSM 9 News.
The film completed principal photography on Aug. 16, 2026. Production information cited in the report says the crew used all four levels of the 37,000-square-foot former Doña Ana County Courthouse, including its holding cells and about 100 rooms. The building served as the setting for a story about five inmates experiencing solitary confinement.
The Film and Its Message
David Midell directed Solitary, with Marks serving as producer. The cast includes Cameron Douglas, Karina Arroyave, Richard Cabral, Sunjay Midda and Matt Orduna. Marks told KTSM that the project examines the damaging effects of isolation and takes a more severe approach than his usual films. He said he hopes audiences will consider the subject seriously and that the film could contribute to change, according to KTSM 9 News.
A Production Connected to the Local Film Economy
The project is part of a broader effort associated with the Las Cruces International Film Festival, which was held for its 11th year in April 2026. Marks has described the festival's purposes as giving audiences access to independent films, training students through hands-on work and showcasing the region to filmmakers, according to KTSM 9 News. The festival is run by New Mexico State University students, who handle its operations.
Film Las Cruces reported that production generated $12.2 million in direct local spending and $19.5 million in total economic impact during the past year. Doña Ana County accounted for 21 percent of New Mexico productions during that period, figures cited by KTSM 9 News.
Training and Statewide Industry Context
NMSU's Creative Media Institute says internships are a crucial part of the curriculum for students pursuing careers in film and other creative industries, providing hands-on experience with industry professionals. Its digital filmmaking program also says it collaborates with regional filmmakers through special feature-film classes to give students real industry experience, according to New Mexico State University's Creative Media Institute and its digital filmmaking program. The production economy extends beyond Doña Ana County. The New Mexico Film Office reported $3.05 billion in combined direct production expenditure statewide from FY22 through FY26. Statewide production spending reached $327 million in FY26, up slightly from $323 million in FY25, according to the New Mexico Film Office.
Post-Production Plans
Solitary is now being edited. The filmmakers plan to complete it by the end of 2026 and seek festival screenings, including possible submissions to Sundance and South by Southwest. A theatrical release is targeted for fall 2027, according to KTSM 9 News.
