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The Hallmark Channel is famous for exploiting every vaguely picturesque corner of America as background for its endless string of (typically holiday-centric) romantic comedies. In 2021 Santa Fe got its turn with Holiday in Santa Fe, in which Emeraude Toubia (“Shadowhunters”) starred as a workaholic executive from a major greeting card corporation who shows up in Santa Fe during Christmas to take over a tiny, family ornament shop run by hunky Hispanic Mario Lopez (Slater himself from “Saved By the Bell”). No points will be awarded for guessing how that whole situation turns out. Now, it seems, it’s Albuquerque’s turn.
On Friday, May 8, the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International
Balloon Museum will host a red-carpet premiere screening of Hallmark’s newest original film, Love in the Clouds. In case you couldn’t tell, it takes place at our city’s very own Balloon Fiesta.
The film stars Canadian actor Paul Greene (as a cynical balloon pilot specializing in “romantic” couple flights) and soap opera star McKenzie Westmore (as a big-city reporter looking for a seasonal story … and, perhaps, love). Gail O’Grady (“NYPD Blue”) and Lorenzo Lamas (“Falcon Crest”) round out the cast. It was produced by Desert Reign Films, a newly formed Albuquerque-based production company and written by native New Mexican Lisa Hepner (who gave us such yuletide-centric romcoms as A Christmas Wish in Hudson, Christmas Lovers Anonymous, The Christmas Checklist and Sappy Holiday).
The red-carpet premiere is a private affair for cast and crew. But you have the opportunity to see Love in the Clouds yourself when the film airs on Hallmark Channel this coming Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m.