Program of Events- YVFF 2026

Welcome to the 8th edition of the Yucca Valley Film Festival, November 6 to 8, 2026, with two additional nights presented by the Joshua Tree Film Office on November 4 and 5.

November 6 to 8 weekend is ADMISSION FREE and takes place at the Yucca Valley Community Center, 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284.

November 4 and 5 screenings will take place at the Paradigm Theater in Yucca Valley.

All events are open to the public.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM (pdf soon)

Film order is indicative. Program subject to change.

PARKING

Free parking can be found all around the Community Center.

Details here. Download the Parking & Access MAP HERE.

OPEN TO ALL

The goal of the YVFF is to bring our local community together with the community of filmmakers gathering at the festival.

All Q&As, discussions, and Meet & Greets are opportunities to connect. Every time, we reserve a moment for you to ask questions directly to the filmmakers in attendance.

DAY 1 | Friday Nov 6, 2026

RESERVE YOUR FREE SPOT FOR OPENING NIGHT

5 pm | Courtyard

Red Carpet with official photographer | Dress code chic or casual chic
20-foot long Red Carpet
With the participation of the McGruff the crime dog mascot and the Gunfighters for Hire!

Between 5 and 6 pm | Courtyard.

The Gunfighters for Hire will perform twice in the courtyard between 5 and 6 PM
The California Welcome Center will host a drinks & information table for all festival goers and participants
Red Carpet will run at the same time
The Gunfighters for Hire will also offer a gun safety demonstration.

Welcome Drinks Hosted by the California Welcome Center.

6 pm | Main Room

Meet & Greet with The Gunfighters for Hire.

6:30 pm | Main Room

Matt Beurois, festival director
Soroptimist Yucca Valley, Lombardo Family & Joshua Tree Film Office: Grants for filmmakers
Freddy Bi, CEO of Discover Inland Empire Tourism
Merl Abel, Mayor of Yucca Valley

6:45 pm | Main Room

Presentation of the opening films by the filmmakers
Screenings
QnA with filmmakers
Picture signing with filmmakers

Explore All Day 1 Films

10 pm | The Stallion

56193 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284

Event Co-hosted with Brown Girls Desert Club, Master of Ceremony: Danielle Leilani.

OPEN TO ALL – join us!
Each guest is responsible for their own order.

DAY 2 | Saturday Nov 7, 2026

8:30 am | Main Room

Complimentary coffee & donuts
Scriptwriters and Composers Annual Roundtable
Picture signing
Official selection of scriptwriters: click here (soon).

9:45 am | Main Room

Screenings: Mix of short films, short documentaries, music videos, dance, experimental work, local and international films.
QnA with filmmakers
Picture Signing

1 pm | Main Room

Animated short films for kids & families.

2 pm | Main Room

Screenings: Mix of short films, short documentaries, music videos, dance, experimental work, local and international films.
QnA with filmmakers
Picture Signing

5 pm | Courtyard

Red Carpet with official photographer | Dress code chic or casual chic
Costumed Renaissance villagers will join you for your red carpet photos!

5 pm | Courtyard

Costumed Renaissance villagers from Koroneburg will make special appearances in the courtyard.

6 pm | Main Room

6:30 pm | Main Room

Screenings
QnA with filmmakers
Picture Signing

10 pm | YVFF NIGHT CALL

At the Tiny Pony Tavern, 57205 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284

DAY 3 | Sunday Nov 8, 2026

8 am | Meet at the Community Center, back lot, parking #4.

Download the Parking & Access MAP HERE.
We will form a caravan, with each participant driving their own vehicle
We will depart at 8 AM sharp to ensure we arrive at the Western Studio lot by 9 AM.

♦️What is an Industry Event?♦️

For the third year in a row, the Yucca Valley Film Festival is opening its Industry Events to everyone. An industry event is usually reserved for movie professionals to discuss industry trends, access backstage environments, visit studio lots, or debate topics of interest between peers – and off the record.

Our Industry Events are casual and open to all to participate and peek behind the curtain.

In previous years, the YVFF hosted its Industry Event in Pioneertown with NBC’s Olivia Sandusky (2025), and at the Yucca Bowl with guest speaker Desiree Staples (2023), who filmed a feature length comedy in Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree starring Rumer Willis. In 2024, the festival brought every filmmaker to the WhiteHorse Ranch, a full Western movie set that has hosted filming with Sharon Stone and Billy Ray Cyrus.

This year, we are partnering again with WhiteHorse Ranch to fully open the whole studio city, all the buildings and all the facilities, for everyone to discover.

11:30 am | Green Room (Cholla Room)

Pizza lunch complimentary for filmmakers with a badge and a confirmed reservation.
Open to all – but no food for visitors: bring your own lunch.
YVFF Alumnis Roll Call
Lookbook presentation of American Sweetheart by Rebecca Jo Huston
5x Emmy Award Winner Ev Durán
Debate, Questions & Discussion

1 pm | Main Room

Screenings
QnA with filmmakers
Picture Signing

4 pm | Main Room

Following the success of Pitch Practice in 2024, the YVFF brings back the format with a new focus on mentorship.
Filmmakers will be paired with producers, Jury members and community stakeholders for an express pick your brain session.
The session runs on a rotation format. Filmmakers will have just a few minutes with each mentor to ask questions, get advice and make connections before moving on to the next.
Interested in joining as a community mentor? Send us an email to apply.
Not a filmmaker? Everyone is welcome to sit in and observe the fast-paced sessions from the side.