Ross Marks

An award winning filmmaker and educator. Ross Kagan Marks graduated from New Mexico State University with a BA in 1990. Ross directed the award-winning short film SCRAMBLED LOVE in 1990. Ross was one of the youngest graduates of the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI) Directing Program, where he received his MFA in 1994. In 1994, Ross also directed the award-wining short film SHOWDOWN ON RIO ROAD featuring Robby Benson. In 1995, Ross directed the full-length feature film, HOMAGE, starring Blythe Danner, Bruce Davison, Sheryl Lee and Frank Whaley, written and produced by Mark Medoff. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received an award and went on to receive more awards at numerous film festivals. In 1997, Ross directed the film adaptation of the play THE TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS. The film was produced by Showtime and Hallmark. Garry Marshall was Executive Producer. The film featured Marshall, Faye Dunaway, Brendan Fraser, Rosie O’Donnell, Jack Klugman, Jon Tenney, and Jennifer Beals. The film opened the Chicago Film Festival in 1998, won an award at Sundance, and received many other awards. 1n 1997 and 1998 Ross taught independent filmmaking at The AFI. Beginning in 2008, Ross taught screenwriting and acting for film at New Mexico State University. In 2008, Ross co-directed BOOM a film project produced by CMI at New Mexico State University. His stage play DELICIOUS NUT opened at the Black Box Theater in Las Cruces in 2008 and has since been produced nationally. In 2013, Ross directed Amy Lanasa’s stage play TWITCH as well as two films; THE GRIND and FLUFF. Ross directed the award-winning short film PRINCESS in 2014. Ross directed the stage play THE WAGER written by Mark Medoff. He is currently working on his fourth feature film THE HEART OUTRIGHT written by Mark Medoff based on his stage play. Ross is a professor at New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute, teaching Directing, Screenwriting, Acting for Film and Film Analysis.