NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – MovieMaker Magazine has once again shone the spotlight on the New Mexico film industry, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, in its 2026 list of “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker.”
“As someone who returned to New Mexico after years in the California film industry, I can confirm the amazing opportunities our state offers,” Steve Graham, director of the New Mexico Film Office, stated in a news release. “Our varied locations, talented workforce, and attractive incentives continue to draw productions of all sizes. This recognition highlights what many filmmakers already know: New Mexico is one of the top places in the world to pursue a career in film.”
Year in Review: What was filmed in New Mexico in 2025?
MovieMaker weighs factors like production activity, the strength of the area’s film incentives, cost of living, and access to a sophisticated workforce when compiling its rankings.
The rankings can be found below:
Santa Fe: Ranked #1 in the Small Cities
Santa Fe ranked No. 1 in MovieMaker Magazine’s 2026 “Smaller Cities and Towns” category for the 4th year in a row. The magazine pointed to the various production facilities in the city and county, which include Bonanza Creek and Mortenson’s Eaves movie ranches, the sound stages at Santa Fe Studios, and northern New Mexico’s largest studio space, Aspect Media Village…