The Yucca Valley Film Festival has a history of spotlighting films that go on to earn Oscar recognition. In 2023, The Brave Locomotive delighted kids and families at the Community Center before landing a spot on the Academy Awards shortlist.

This year, it is not one but two filmmakers previously recognized by the Academy will take center stage at YVFF.

Kristen Gerweck Diaz qualified for the 91st Academy Awards in 2019 with her short film The Wind Phone, nominated in the Best Live Action Short category. The film was later acquired for Amazon Prime’s “Discover Indie Film Series” and featured on Virgin Atlantic Airlines. At this year’s festival, Gerweck Diaz returns with her new film Milk Baby, competing in the official selection.

Luke J. Salewski joins her as another rising talent, having recently been named a finalist at the 51st Student Academy Awards (2025) for his short The Lights Above, which will also screen at YVFF.

Here is our cross-interview with both filmmakers.

CROSS INTERVIEW

How did you feel when you received the Academy Awards news?

KRISTEN: It was a genuinely surreal moment for both me and The Wind Phone‘s incredible producer, Linda C. Riedmann, who was my partner in bringing this special story to life. While we all deeply believed in the story we were telling, none of us anticipated the impact this film would have on the world. The Wind Phone has screened at over 100 festivals across 35 countries, won more than 50 awards, and has been featured at grief conferences and in communities inspired to install Wind Phones.

LUKE: Hearing that The Lights Above was a semifinalist in the Student Academy Awards was one of those jaw-hits-the-floor moments. Eventually making it to the finalists (as one of only seven narrative shorts worldwide from nearly 3,000 international submissions) has become an absolute highlight of my career—one that is still hard to believe really happened.

The announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, as it arrived during a season when I was searching for a festival to premiere the film and feeling discouraged after a string of rejections from festivals I’d been excited to submit to. Knowing that Academy members who vote on student films found The Lights Above worthy of recognition erased the disappointment I had previously felt. It serves as a reminder of the subjectivity of art—and that you never truly know how deeply your work might resonate with others.

Your movies are what we call “impactful” films in the festival scene—not only because of the stories they tell, but also because, as complete works, they look and feel phenomenal: the cinematography, set design, performances… How do you achieve that magic in moviemaking?

LUKE: I have to share my gratitude for the teaching I received in film school. One of the lessons continually emphasized to us about short films was the importance of telling a complete story—not just a proof of concept, not just a cool twist, but a fully realized three-act film. I hope the film inspires viewers to want a feature version, but I’m glad that it primarily stands complete on its own. The completeness of the film is really the result of the incredible talent of our team.

KRISTEN: To start, I really appreciate your feedback—it’s gratifying to have my work acknowledged in this way. As a filmmaker and writer, I’ve experimented with different genres and styles, but one thing that remains central to me is my pursuit of impactful stories. To me, the most meaningful achievement a film can have is to leave a lasting impression—to make audiences think, see the world and humanity differently, and challenge their perceptions of reality.

LUKE: Recreating 1942 is no small feat, especially with limited resources—and for a short film, which notoriously has little to no return on investment. This is where we had to turn challenges into opportunities. Being college students making a film opened doors to discounts, favors, volunteers, and free locations. Two days before we filmed a scene in a darkroom, I was painting the producer’s garage while the production design team brought in set dressing. The newsroom was filled with old desks we’d picked up for free all over L.A. in a rented U-Haul from Facebook Marketplace. Almost the entire crew consisted of volunteer students. These are just a few examples of how we stretched our budget as far as possible.

The team and I worked tirelessly to research and ensure every on-screen detail reflected the 1940s with accuracy and cinematic quality—while always serving the characters and story. –Luke J. Salewski

If a film lacks authenticity, it can completely pull the viewer out of the magic of being immersed in another time or world.

KRISTEN: While awards are appreciated, my primary goal is to create cinematic experiences that resonate with audiences. As filmmakers, we not only have the chance to entertain but also to spark meaningful conversations. We all have films that have profoundly impacted us. I’m grateful to those who created those works, and I hope to do the same.

Milk Baby was a significant progression in my career in many ways. It was, in many respects, emotionally autobiographical. –Kristen Gerweck Diaz

As someone who is very private by nature (I’m not on social media), feeling exposed in this way was confronting. But ultimately, putting myself out there became a transformative experience—both as a filmmaker and as a human being.

LUKE: At the end of the day, my producers reminded me that the most important detail to focus on was the audience. I’m devoted to giving them 17 minutes where they forget they’re not in the throes of WWII on the home front—and where they find themselves caring about characters and a story they’ve never seen before. I couldn’t be more grateful or proud of my team for helping bring this film to life, and I look forward to continuing to share it with audiences at the Yucca Valley Film Festival.

KRISTEN: Additionally, Milk Baby marked a major step forward for me as a filmmaker, pushing me to take bigger risks and leaps of faith. It was ambitious in scale and required more preparation than many independent features. We literally created an entire world out of thin air. But I’ve learned that when you have intense passion and drive, you’ll find a way to make the impossible possible. Never let anyone—including yourself—place limits on what you can accomplish.

Catch The Lights Above on November 7 – Red Carpet at 5:30 p.m., screenings at 6:30 p.m.
Catch Milk Baby on November 8 – Concert at 5:30 p.m., Meet & Greet with Janey Hann at 6 p.m., screenings at 6:30 p.m.
Both filmmakers will sign autographs following the screenings of their films.