The Digital Filmmaking Institute, Inc. is a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational organization based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through innovative competitions and training programs, DFI is continuing to prepare New Mexico for the burgeoning film industry. An industry that has brought hundreds of jobs to New Mexico along with new revenue possibilities for local small businesses. DFI is leading the way in advancing the art and technology of digital filmmaking.  

DFI oversees the Duke City Shootout, the world's first international script-to-screen competition, begun in 2000 as Flicks on 66. The festival conducts a worldwide search for short film scripts and selects seven winners. The writers are then brought to Albuquerque in July to shoot, edit and premiere their movies -- in just one week. The festival and its partners provide cast, crew, digital cameras and equipment, locations, catering, editing facilities, producers, and industry mentors.

DFI has produced more than 60 movies during the nine annual competitions. Many of the movies have played at other festivals around the world. See previous winners and contestants <a href="http://dukecityshootout.org/past-shootout-winners/">here</a>.

Each year just prior to the festival, DFI sponsors a "digital bootcamp" where novices and pros alike are offered a week's worth of classes in a variety of movie-related disciplines. More than a thousand students have attended the bootcamps since 2000.

DFI has forged educational partnerships with the Media Arts program at the University of New Mexico and the state's Film Technicians Training Program in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell, El Rito and Las Cruces. FTTP students provide much of the crew for the shootout. DFI works with University of New Mexico Division of Continuing Education, Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque Public Schools and IATSE 480 to provide training opportunities in the movie industry.

DFI's 2010 Board of Directors:

Grubb Graebner: Chair

Ella Sitkin: Treasurer

Christopher Boone

John Grace

Michael Kamins 

Cindy Kemp 

Shane Urioste