Hundreds of filmmakers drive to the California desert for the Yucca Valley Film Festival

The community event became the new desert attraction in recent years

The Yucca Valley Film Festival, the Town of Yucca Valley’s signature event returns for its 6th edition with a slew of screenings, panels, roundtables and the annual Masterclass.

Over 400 films, documentaries and music videos were submitted to the Yucca Valley Film Festival this year, from 29 different countries.

The festival will take place Nov 8-10, at the Community Center of Yucca Valley, California.

The 3-day event will offer daily screenings (more than 50 movies this year), multiple events (including a Masterclass and a “State of Hollywood” industry panel), and a full red carpet experience in the California Desert for hundreds of participating filmmakers and thousands of festival goers.

Director and producer Shane Stanley, 2-time Emmy Award Winner and 11-time Telly Winner, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Masterclass, following in the footsteps of Rosanna Arquette, special guest last year at the festival.

The Kids and families will enjoy a selection of 11 animated short films from Europe, United States and Asia, including a new adventure of the Smurfs.

Short films, documentaries, music videos, dance films and art films will screen for free for three days, with each and every movie being presented in-person by the filmmakers.

In recent years, filmmakers, actors, producers and distributors flocked to Yucca Valley to participate in the festival and its high-quality QnAs, to meet with the local community, and of course network with fellow creators.

Scriptwriters and movie composers have their own dedicated event, a roundtable to discuss their craft, and every day the festival will present and support a local organization, club or charity.

In recent years, the festival’s lineup included William Baldwin, several Oscar winners, multiple Emmy Award winners, current TV stars, legendary western idols and legacy cinematographers.

The Festival, which celebrated its fifth year anniversary in 2023, became in just a few editions the place to be for filmmakers and audiences who are actually looking for a down-to-earth, human-sized festival experience. In Yucca Valley, the stars and the residents walk the red carpet, and all screenings and events are free to attend.

The Town puts together an event that is generous, entertaining, and rooted in its community. The Film Festival is becoming a tourism destination, and it is already a platform to allow local desert residents to meet with top-level independent artists from Hollywood.

The organizers are introducing three new events this year: an industry panel made of producers, directors and actors will discuss “the current state of Hollywood” on Saturday. On Sunday, the festival is setting up a giant “Rapid Fire Pitch Practice” during which local residents will step into the shoes of Hollywood executives and listen to filmmakers’ movie pitch ideas.

Lastly, the festival will wrap with a festive “Social Hour” after its Awards Ceremony.

The 6th Yucca Valley Film Festival takes place Nov 8-10 at the Community Center of Yucca Valley, 57090 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. It is free to attend and family friendly.

Detailed program on yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com.

Media Contact
Company Name: Yucca Valley Film Festival
Contact Person: Emma Malkovich
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Country: United States
Website: https://yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com/