By Organ Mountain News on May 20, 2026

Las Cruces-shot film ‘I’ll Be Gone in June’ premieres at Cannes Film Festival

“I’ll Be Gone in June,” a feature film shot in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, premiered May 17 at the Cannes Film Festival.

Film Local Entertainment Southern New Mexico

Promotional artwork for “I’ll Be Gone in June,” a feature film shot in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County that premiered May 17 at the Cannes Film Festival. (Courtesy image / Luxbox)

Director Katharina Rivilis said southern New Mexico inspired the film, which shot in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County in 2024

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - A feature film inspired by life in Las Cruces and shot throughout southern New Mexico premiered this week at the Festival de Cannes in France.

“I’ll Be Gone in June,” written and directed by Katharina Rivilis, debuted May 17 at the Cannes Film Festival after filming in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County in 2024.

According to Film Las Cruces, the film was inspired by Rivilis’ experiences as an exchange student in Las Cruces years earlier.

“Las Cruces was the original inspiration for the film because I had spent time there as an exchange student years ago,” Rivilis said in a statement. “What began as a personal connection also became the perfect place to shoot.”

Rivilis said the production team scouted locations across New Mexico before ultimately selecting Las Cruces and surrounding areas for the film’s landscapes, atmosphere and community support.

“There is something truly magical about the light and nature in southern New Mexico, and the generosity of the Las Cruces community made this ambitious debut feature possible,” she said.

The film stars Naomi Cosma, David Flores, Bianca Dumais and Rebecca Schulz. Film Las Cruces said the production featured a cast and crew made up largely of local residents.

The story follows Franny, a 16-year-old exchange student from Germany who arrives in Las Cruces in 2001 and struggles to adjust to life in the desert Southwest as the United States reels from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The official trailer for “I’ll Be Gone in June,” a feature film shot in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, premiered alongside the film’s debut at the Cannes Film Festival. (Courtesy video / Luxbox)

Film Las Cruces Film Liaison Andrew Jara said the organization was proud to help support the production.

“Film Las Cruces loves that Katharina was so inspired by Las Cruces that she centered her debut feature film around it,” Jara said in a statement.

Rivilis also credited Film Las Cruces with helping connect the production team to local infrastructure, logistics and community resources during the shoot.

The film was produced by Lèa Germain, Wim Wenders, Clemens Köstlin and Rivilis.

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