Visit Las Cruces has won the Gold Award in the Cinematography category for Promotional Videos in the 40th annual Telly Awards, which honors the best film and video productions, groundbreaking online video content, and outstanding local, international and cable TV commercials and productions.

The Gold Telly Award was for a promotional video titled “Slot Canyon Tour” of a hike that visitors can experience just outside of Las Cruces. The video promoted Monuments to Main Street, a month-long celebration that each September showcases fun events and tours throughout Doña Ana County. From renowned festivals like the Hatch Chile Festival and Diez y Seis de Septiembre in Mesilla, to new exciting tours of our nearby national monuments, residents and visitors alike are invited to experience the best of southern New Mexico.

The video was produced by Visit Las Cruces Communications Specialist Karla Walton who hiked, shot, and produced the award-winning video. Karla has been part of the Visit Las Cruces team since 2015 where she has helped with four Las Cruces Country Music Festivals, three years of Monuments to Main Street, two Las Cruces Space Festivals, and one Historic Rio Grande Theatre revival. On behalf of the City of Las Cruces Police Department she also took home an award, a Silver Telly Award for the Police Lip Sync Challenge Video.

The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates.