New Mexico teen film The Courage Kit heads to Mindfield Film Festival

Young performers from the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico’s Performing Arts program made The Courage Kit as a community film project for another teen facing childhood cancer. The short will screen Aug. 29 at the 9th Annual Mindfield Film Festival in Albuquerque.

Why it matters: - The Courage Kit shows how a local arts program can turn classroom training into a public creative achievement. - The film was made for another teen in the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico community, giving the project personal weight beyond a typical student production. - The screening gives young performers a chance to see their work reach an audience at the 9th Annual Mindfield Film Festival in Albuquerque.

What happened: - Young performers from the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico’s Performing Arts program created The Courage Kit as a short film project. - Aaron Alexander wrote and directed the film. - Performing Arts Program Director Abby Max helped guide the project from classwork into production. - The film screens Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, during the 1:00 p.m. block at Guild Cinema in Albuquerque.

The details: - The cast included students with prior film-set experience and others acting in a movie for the first time. - The students rehearsed, learned their roles, worked with a professional production crew, hit their marks and performed on camera. - The story follows five young people who open a mysterious box and discover that ordinary objects can carry deeper meanings. - The film explores courage, friendship, hope, fear and the burdens people carry through hard moments. - CCFNM staff supported the production throughout, helping where needed. - Filmmakers, crew members, artists, businesses, friends, volunteers and other supporters contributed time, equipment, skills, locations, resources and encouragement. - The Performing Arts program includes acting, dance, music, modeling and other creative disciplines. - CCFNM says the program is designed to help young people create, perform, build confidence and form friendships.

Between the lines: - The project appears built as much around community care as around filmmaking. - The production gave students a chance to apply skills in a real-world setting, which can matter as much as the final film for young performers. - The outside support from the New Mexico film community suggests the project became a broader local collaboration, not just a school exercise.

What’s next: - Audiences will get their first public look at The Courage Kit at Mindfield Film Festival. - People who want to support the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico can donate through the organization’s website. - Supporters can also choose the designated Performing Arts donation option on the website. - The organization is inviting people with time, resources or professional expertise to get involved directly. - Mindfield Film Festival runs Aug. 27–30, 2026, with screenings at Guild Cinema and other programming around Albuquerque.

The bottom line: - The Courage Kit is both a short film and a community project, with young performers at the center of both.