Icelandic director Anton Sigurdsson returns to Las Cruces for ‘Pandemonium’

Sigurdsson came to New Mexico because of the state’s film incentive program. He came back because of his positive experience.

Source: Film Las Cruces, N.M. Film Office
Photos: Courtesy

SANTA FE — New Mexico continues to inspire Icelandic director Anton Sigurdsson, who traveled to Las Cruces to film two productions in the past year: “A Better Place” in 2025, which is in post-production and is set to be released in 2027, and most recently “Pandemonium.” 

Sigurdsson came to New Mexico because of the state’s film incentive program. He came back because of his positive experience. 

Screenshots from “Spotlight On” Presented by NMFO (Produced By Connor Setter)

“The reason why I came first to New Mexico was all transactional,” Sigurdsson said. “It was because of the tax rebate, and I had producers who said, ‘Can you look into that?’ The two films I was doing were set in Washington state. When a producer comes to me and says let’s get this done, we found the tax rebate and was recommended Las Cruces. I started scouting and just went into the script and took out rain and wrote desert. It just worked. Then we filmed there. I liked the crew. I liked the people. I liked everything around it. I liked the structure. It’s just a film town. There’s a lot of films done there, and you know the weather fit the story.”  

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New Mexico film incentive program, which has been around for more than 20 years, offers a refundable film tax credit with a base of 25% and up to 40% on qualifying in state production and post-production spend, with additional uplifts for rural filming, qualified facilities, and TV series.

Steve Graham, New Mexico Film Office director, said the world-class crews and locations are a few of the reasons filmmakers return to New Mexico.

“Anton is just one example of a filmmaker who has returned to New Mexico for more than one project,” Graham said. “It’s productions like these that keep our hard-working crews on set. Each story creates its own magic.”

“Pandemonium,” which wrapped in June, employed 30 New Mexico crew members, 15 New Mexico principal actors and 25 background actors. Meanwhile, “A Better Place,” employed more than 100 New Mexico residents, including 40 resident crew members, 27 principal talent, and more than 30 background talent. Both productions brought a significant economic impact of filming in southern New Mexico.

“Pandemonium” follows a group of wealthy New Yorkers who arrive at a secluded desert retreat with no communication to the outside world, seeking personal transformation. Meanwhile, “A Better Place” centers on a disgraced deputy and his partners who are involved in a cover-up that spirals into a chaotic web of paranoia, greed, and buried secrets.

Both films star Theo Rossi (“The Penguin”), Billy Campbell (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”), and Rosaline Elbay (“The Diplomat”) and exist in the same universe.

“Film Las Cruces is excited to have another project from Anton Sigurdsson especially because of how many locals ‘Pandemonium’ has showing off their amazing talent,” said Andrew Jara, Film Las Cruces film liaison.

“Coming back for the second film made it easier. It opened up the idea for coming back for a third time,” Sigurdsson added.