UNM students awarded grants to create documentaries based on New Mexico struggles

-Jay-Alan Miller, a returning student after graduating several years ago, is now in his last semester of UNM’s Film Production program. Since then, he’s studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the Paris Conservatory in France.

-Heathen Seagraves is a recent graduate of UNM.

-Thomas Manning is in his junior year at UNM as a Film Production major.

According to NMDIG, each of the winners created an outline for a documentary that addresses a significant issue faced by New Mexico communities.

Miller’s film on regenerative farming will be called, “The Fields of Our Future.” The documentary will focus on three diverse New Mexico farmers/ranchers who successfully transition from traditional agriculture to regenerative procedures and convey the real-world impact.

“I chose the topic out of combined interests in being good to ourselves and being good to our planet,” Miller said. “So much of what comes down to human health, and the health of our planet (and thus the ability to continue in the duration), comes back to farming. A mutation towards different and better farming practices is happening, and I aim to create an educational and comprehensive portrait of this movement, as it’s playing out here in New Mexico.”

In addition, UNM alumni Heathen Seagraves’ film, which will focus on an Intergenerational look at queer identity, is titled, “A Strong Woman.” The documentary tells the story of a transgender man trying to understand his relationship with his mother. The film questions the connections between social progress and resentment between generations.

Finally, Thomas Manning’s film on felon reintegration is titled, “Reentering a New World.” It will center on what life after prison looks like and answer key questions such as, what worries the average offender about returning to society and how the Albuquerque community is helping fill in gaps for that community.

“I am a convicted felon myself, so for me, this is a chance to say what I need to say to the world and address the issues that I face and believe are commonly experienced by people in my situation,” Manning said. “I think people have to address reintegration because most people sent to prison will return to society inevitably.”

The emerging filmmakers will have six months to finish their documentaries.

“The level of interest and the quality of the eight filmmakers selected for the funding clearly demonstrate the potential to grow and support creative filmmaking talent in New Mexico,” said Greg Polk, NMDIG’s program director.

Between the eight awardees, $29,000 was granted this year.

Last year, two UNM Film & Digital Arts students, Gianna Peredina and Dylan Haworth, were awarded grants.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1. This article was written by Alexa Skonieski, and originally published on UNM News on February 24, 2025. https://news.unm.edu/news/unm-students-awarded-grants-to-create-documentaries-based-on-new-mexico-struggles

2. VIEW THE 2024 NMDIG grant winner’s full documentary, created by UNM Film alumna, Gianna Peredina, titled “Strings of Connection.” (2024) by visiting https://youtu.be/csqK_WScO8k?si=ID-jskyNiTrySZ18