I expect to be directing my first feature in 2009, and without question, my experience at (the festival) was a key factor in giving me the confidence to pursue that goal.

Steven List, writer/director of the 2002 Palm de Grease winner, Shibubu

I feel like all this good stuff got rolling for me as a result of my participation in the Duke City Shootout — some sort of cosmic success-begetting-success kind of thing. So I’m very grateful to all of you for taking my script and helping me turn it into the movie that it became — one that is having life even beyond the Shootout as you can see from the festival responses.

Will Hartman, writer/director of the 2007 Palm de Grease winner, Easy Pickins'

Aside from a few important screenwriting contests such as the Nicholl Fellowship or the Chesterfield Writers Project, most of the contests out there suck. While there are several contests out there with a large cash prize, their actual significance in the film industry is marginal...That being said, there are a few contests that are worth entering. One of them is the filmmaking festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico known as the Duke City Shootout.

Cinemoose.com

Thank you for allowing us to participate in the Duke City Shootout. It was nothing short of amazing.

Thom Eberhardt, director of the cult classic Night of the Comet and mentor on So Five Minutes Ago

The Duke City Shootout changed my life.

Amy Giedraitis, producer of 2005 Palm de Grease winner Lady Liberty

The 48 Hour Film Project and the Duke City Shootout are...pioneers of the marathon moviemaking competition...Competitions like the 48 Hour Film Project and the Duke City Shootout will only grow in importance as the digital revolution continues to re-shape the way we make -- and watch -- movies.

Brian Malik, MovieMaker Magazine

To be able to descend into the arena of battle -- the doing -- is the most important thing for an artist ... A lot of the kids were so eager to pick my brain, they didn't even mind my fleecing them of 50 cents during the after-hours poker game. That's right, high-stakes life lessons as well as a little bit of poker math.

Jim Mercurio, screenwriter

It's the off, off Broadway of Hollywood. (Filmmakers) can create a buzz about themselves."

Ellen Sandler, Co-executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond.

This is like being a kid and getting the best set of crayons and a giant piece of paper and saying 'have at it.'

Dann Netter, Emmy-Award winning producer

The Duke City Shootout is the real deal. I know of no better opportunity in North America.

Ray Penton, President of the Film and Video Producers Association of Newfoundland

If you think you want to work in the business, then do this for a week. You'll know by the end of that week if you're cut out for it.

Tony DellaFlora, co-founder of the Duke City Shootout

I wrote this especially for the shootout. If it got picked I'd direct for the first time. I wouldn't have this opportunity this early any other way.

Stanley Ray, writer, 2005 Palm de Grease winner, Under My Skin

I'm trying to get some experience and opportunities to direct more. The Shootout does that.”

Chidiki Whitley, writer, The Kiss

I understand screenwriting and have acted, but not the directing piece of it. I'm going to be a more well-rounded movie maker afterwards. It's invaluable knowledge I might not have gotten anywhere else.

Pamela Johnson, writer, Talk Me To Death

Freedom meets expertise and gets fueled by inspiration and limitation. You've only got days and the clock is ticking so it makes for excitement, challenge and instant feedback.

Ray Penton, Mentor

...the world’s strangest little film festival...where movies are made at their down-and-dirtiest.

Premiere Magazine

It is dream chasing and economic development done the gritty and hard way...

New Mexico Business Weekly

I salute your courage, gumption, guts, imagination, focus, daring...you threw people into a creative frenzy, hosted a grand experiment, forced vision and order out of chaos. The world, let alone New Mexico, needs this kind of leadership and you’re providing it.

Bob Belinoff/Digital Workshop, Albuquerque

It’s a real innovative idea and an edgier festival. The digital world is exploding out there and it may as well be exploding here.

Nancy Everist, former director New Mexico Film Office

(The Shootout) captures the entrepreneurial spirit that made the ‘Mother Road’ a symbol of opportunity to all who traveled her. (It) memorializes this by creating a competition that discovers and recognizes new filmmakers

Rich Williams, NM Route 66 Association

They may not be able to offer kickbacks and an inflated dollar value like Canada does, but damn if they don’t kill you with kindness.

Paul Zimmerman, Independent Film Magazine

It is a loud, boisterous and festive event, and the films are well-received by a movie-hungry audience...For all the bedlam and struggle, (the festival) has been responsible for the making of some entertaining and interesting new movies.

Adam Goldstein, MovieMaker

It was great. I met a lot of talented people.

Linda Goldstein, producer of Whale Rider, The Shipping News, Crazy in Alabama and Bad Assassin

The festival is phenomenal because for most film festivals, films already have to be made and that’s half the battle

Victor Isaac, writer, Guns on the Table

The most amazing thing has been the volunteers who have put in their time to work on this. They’re just unsinkable.

Don Knowlton, writer, Bad Assassin

Vans. Does anybody know where to get vans?

Jim “Grubb” Graebner, co-founder Duke City Shootout