Kassy Mahea is an LA-based director who grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii and has become a familiar voice at YVFF, participating twice with three films, including a year when she premiered two projects. Her work is shaped by an expansive imagination, blending quirky, surreal ideas with unexpected metaphors, hidden messages, and unlikely characters. Now preparing her next film “West Of Willow”, we caught up with Kassy to discuss her new project.

You had three films at the YVFF. “What Happens in the Desert” showed in 2021, then you returned with “Connie & Blyde” and “Love & Lust Lost” in 2022. What memories do you keep from your participation in the YVFF?

YVFF has been an incredible event to be a part of! The festival does a great job at curating a sense of community and uplifting its artists. I’ve experienced only genuine support from YVFF and would recommend any filmmaker or film enthusiast to check it out.

The films showcased at YVFF are all so great and unique–being part of the lineup was an honor. I would say this Festival is an all around experience, located in the beauty of the desert, and being surrounded by great artists—such an inspiration. I will certainly be back, it was a blast and seems to be building and growing every year!

Let’s dive right in: you are working on a new project :West & Willow: what is it about / what is your elevator pitch?

This project is deeply personal. Having recently faced the loss of my grandmother and confronting many shadows of my own, I’ve come to understand how grief can both isolate and transform us. This film is my way of exploring that universal experience.

West of Willow is a 20-minute short folk-period film set in the wilds of old Wyoming. The story follows Clara, a hardened, determined woman trekking toward a mountain butte said to be home to the Devil. Along the way, she requests the help of Elias, a hunter and self-proclaimed man of God whose eccentric faith and endless chatter challenge her resolve. As they ascend together, their clashing beliefs and unexpected camaraderie expose deeper truths about life, loss, and loneliness.

West of Willow will combine grounded performances, striking cinematography, and a tone that balances the haunting and the heartfelt. Drawing inspiration from films like David Lowery’s ‘The Green Knight’ (for its poetic visual language) and Hulu’s TV series ‘The Great’ (for its offbeat humor). 

What begins as a simple quest becomes an emotional, darkly humorous meditation on grief, belief, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the things we love (even if it’s just a cat). Told through a blend of myth and absurdity, West of Willow explores the ways grief manifests in our lives, and how it haunts us until we truly face it. The story challenges conventional ideas of good and evil, light and dark, joy and sorrow, asking what happens when these forces are companions rather than opposites. It’s a visual and emotional journey into the wilderness—both outside and within.

Ultimately, I hope to remind audiences that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone, and compassion for even the smallest of things can make the world a better place (even if it hurts sometimes). 

You are crowdfunding to be able to make that film: where/how can people support the project, support you and engage in the financing campaign?

We are a fiscally sponsored project through Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts service organization. Currently, we are crowdfunding through their platform, which you can view here.

All donations are tax-deductible, and even the smallest contribution makes a meaningful difference!

When are you planning to film it?

We’ll be on a pretty tight schedule considering how short the days will be during the winter. We are set to film this January, for about 3 days. 

Do you have locations in mind already, leads for performers or secured cast?

We are very excited to be shooting in Wyoming! With the dramatic winter landscapes around Jackson Hole and Dubois, the locations are hard to beat. We have our cast locked, which includes myself playing Clara and local Wyoming actor Golden Garnick as Elias. We have also secured a stellar crew, including creative producer Taylor Vandegrift and cinematographer Jared Freeman.

Is there a platform or a place where our Yucca Valley community can catch up on your 3 films that played at the YVFF?

Anyone can check out my three films which played at the YVFF on my website!

Watch What Happens In The Desert, Connie & Blyde, and Love & Lust Lost.

We hope to see you again in Yucca Valley and screen West and Willow when it’ll be completed!

I would be honored to be a part of the YVFF with West of Willow, so keep an eye out! Hopefully we’ll see you all there!