Coming home: Guild, Jean Cocteau cinemas to hold screenings of Rachel Noll James' 'Ingress'

Rachel Noll James grew up a fan of film.

At the beginning, she wanted to be in front of the camera and spent a good part of her teens auditioning in Santa Fe.

As her journey moved along, she found that being behind the camera was the place to be.

“I was auditioning and acting, and I found it pretty stifling in terms of having any creative ownership,” James says. “I ended up moving into writing and producing to create my own opportunities.”

The Santa Fe native’s latest project, “Ingress” will have screenings at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque and at the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe.

The Guild Cinema will screen the film at 3:30 and 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, and running through Thursday, Jan. 25. James will have a Q&A session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23.

The Jean Cocteau Cinema screening will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25. James will also participate in a Q&A session after the film.

“Ingress” tells the story of a woman who can move between parallel realities, loses her husband tragically, and must overcome past trauma to travel the multiverse once again and find her way into a reality where he is still alive.

Coming home: Guild, Jean Cocteau cinemas to hold screenings of Rachel Noll James' 'Ingress'

It is produced by James’ Emergence Pictures.

James began the journey with “Ingress” before the pandemic.

She then had to take a break from it for just under two years.

“This is the third film that I’ve written and produced,” she says. “The story is very Santa Fe. It felt like a story that was very vulnerable.”

James moved to Bainbridge Island in Washington. It is also where she did production for the film.

“The area created the perfect setting for the film,” James says.

James chipped away at the script for nearly three years.

With taking her time, she went into production knowing exactly what she wanted.

“This story was alive in my imagination for many years,” she says. “I knew what I wanted scenes to look like.”

James is excited to have screenings in her home state.

“We had a very micro budget and everything that we did was grassroots,” she says. “I’m really proud of this film and can’t wait to talk about it to audiences.”

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.