“In 2009, we set out to create a film festival in Albuquerque. It was my dream to screen Easy Rider since it was the 40th Anniversary of the film that I believe set the indie film revolution in motion.

Someone once told me to dream big so I dreamed that I was in the Kimo Theater watching Easy Rider with Dennis Hopper. I knew a few people who had some connections to him and I asked them to reach out to him and see if he would accept our invitation to screen the film and to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

It took several weeks to hear back from anyone and then the phone rang. It was a friend of mine who was close to Dennis. He apologized but Dennis was not going to be available, but gave us his regards and wished us well. I was disappointed. I really wanted to launch a festival in New Mexico with Dennis since this is where he has lived since making Easy Rider.

A week later, I received a phone call. Dennis had changed his mind! He would do it but he had a limited amount of time- Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson were in town and he had dinner plans. No problem. I called my best friend and production partner and then the press. We were about to experience something special, a rare moment in time when history is created.”

- Rich Henrich, Founder of Film 4 Change & Director of Albuquerque Film Festival

Click Here For An Exclusive Retrospective on Dennis Hopper

Film 4 Change’s 3rd Annual Albuquerque Film Festival
August 18th-21st, 2011.
Hip. Cool. Funny. Strange. Social Change.