Download our program or read below.
NOV 11 through NOV 13, 2022
2022 Yucca Valley Film Festival, 4th edition.
NOTES
All events and screenings are ADMISSION FREE, at the Yucca Valley Community Center, 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284.
Some films may be marked with necessary parental guidance. In such cases, it will be announced on the podium ahead of time, and such movie shall usually screen last.
All our previous Masterclasses, discussions and panels from previous years are on FACEBOOK.
DAY 1
FRIDAY NOV 11, 2022
6:00pm: RED CARPET starts.
Open to everyone with local photographer Sandra Goodin snapping each and every guest, including you: come as you are!
Kick Off Event starts at 6:30pm with:
- Mixed Medias Art Exhibit
- Red Carpet in presence of special guest actress MINA SUNDWALL
- Red Carpet in presence of multi awarded director BRENT HUFF
- Red Carpet in presence of the YVHS LADY TROJAN
- Red Carpet for everyone outside and photobooth inside
- complimentary pop corn!
- Mayor JIM SCHOOLER welcoming words
7pm: Opening Films
| Opening Short Film, 7′, FRANCE Forever Young Directed by Michel and Nicolas Arribehaute. |
| Opening Feature Documentary Film, 1h34, USA THE JACKIE STILES STORY In presence of director Brent Huff. |
Followed by a picture signing with Brent Huff, Mina Sundwall and guests.
DAY 2
SATURDAY NOV 12, 2022
10am: Drone films & Documentaries
| Monumental A deep spiritual journey starts in pursuit of the right place to leave a mark in the world we live in. | 5′ | MALTA | Aleksa Ristovic |
| Perspective ‘PERSPECTIVE’, captures a never-to-be-seen again, empty, picturesque and pristine city of KZN, KwaZulu-Natal, during the unprecedented lockdown. | 6′ | SOUTH AFRICA | Timothy Hay, Simon Mulholland |
| Cappadocia by drone Beautiful Cappadocia from above during winter. | 3′ | GREECE | John Giannelis |
| Inside the Beauty Bubble A pop documentary filmed about The Beauty Bubble Salon & Museum in Joshua Tree and its flamboyant owner Jeff Hafler. | 32′ | USA | Cheryl Bookout, Cheri Gaulke |
| Sky Art in Borrego Springs The story behind the sculptures in Borrego Springs, viewed from the drone and from the ground! | 8′ | USA | Steve Pollard |
| History and Change on the Old Spanish Trail A historic overview of the Old Spanish Trail from Mountain Springs, Nevada, to Salt Creek, California, in the Mojave Desert, and a look at the changing landscape of historic trails. | 27′ | USA | Steve Brown |
| Legend: Ancestral Tablets (Hog-Ziin Tzeng) (Digital presentation only here) Meet Hog-Ziin Tzeng, who makes ancestral tablets. Originally selling air conditioners, Tzeng came across carving and subsequently, he began to investigate how to make ancestral tablets. His unique craftsmanship has attracted orders from families across Taiwan, most of whom are Hakka. | 6′ | TAIWAN | Feeling Wu |
Followed by a discussion with filmmakers and a picture signing.
1pm: KIDS SECTION, animated films
| Shooom’s Odyssey (adventure) Shooom, a baby owl, hatches just as a storm turns the bayou surrounding her tree upside down. No sooner has she fallen from her nest, then the little fledgling totters off into the mangrove, pushing a second egg from the brood along with her. Come hell or high water, she’s determined to find a mother… even if that mom turns out to be an alligator or a raccoon! | 26′ | FRANCE | Julien Bisaro |
| Trojan Horace (comedy) A group of Greek warriors try to pass through the walls of the great city of Troy, but meet their match in a clueless Trojan guardsman. | 7′ | USA | Scott Graham |
| Swing (comedy) In a world of toys a wooden robot feels lonely. Suddenly another robot appears but he or she doesn’t want anything about him. He has to find out the way to establish a relationship. | 5′ | SPAIN | Ignasi Tarruella |
| What Time Is It? (adventure) A boy travels back in time ten years ago, in order to meet his younger self and give him a message. A message that is of tremendous importance for his future life! | 4′ | GERMANY | Eric Giessmann, Piers Goffart |
| The Last Cloudweaver (family, magic) High above the clouds, a Dragon is teaching his granddaughter the last vestiges of his craft – Cloud Weaving. A magical art form, it takes time and patience to learn, and although Skye’s ambitions are soaring, her skills still need practice. | 4′ | UK | Anna-Ester Volozh |
| Giggle Wiggle – Hot Summer Day (family) The story of a friendship between a great green gnome Giggle Wiggle and a little girl named Blabberina, who engage (be it willingly or otherwise) in colossal conflicts of tiny nations. | 4′ | POLAND | Marzena Nehrebecka |
2:30pm: Student Films
WARNING: some student films contains scenes or depctions that may not be suited for kids under 21.
| Fun Mail Larry is driven to madness when he suspects someone is stealing his mail. | 10′ | Jim Belden, USA |
| Be Gay Tomorrow FESTIVAL INFORMATION: Unfortunately, we have not received this film file, as a consequence we are not be able to include it in our actual screening program. | ||
| At Last Deserted Taylor confronts grief, regret, and the unrelenting march of time as she grapples with the death of her best friend, Olivia, by having a picnic in the desert in her memory. | 10′ | Dana Dveris, USA |
Followed by a discussion with filmmakers and a picture signing.
4pm: MASTERCLASS with speakers MINA SUNDWALL AND BRENT HUFF.
Followed by a picture signing and selfies.
6pm: RED CARPET.
Open to anyone for selfies tonight, come as you are!
Starts at 7pm.
Evening will include:
- talks moderated by TV host Kelly Kozakevich
- return of festival Alumni Kassy Mahea
- several local filmmakers from the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino County
- a live performance by the YVHS Trojan Cheers!
7pm: SHORT FILMS SECTION
BLOCK 1: for all audiences.
Followed by a picture signing with all participating filmmakers.
| Morena (fantasy, drama) While painting a portrait of indigenous Aeta natives in the Philippines, Ciara Morena, an insecure folk artist, runs out of brown paint to complete her piece. She orders one and tests it out… and begins to hallucinate flashes of her ancestor, a Kalinga Warrior. And the side effects don’t stop there… | 8′ | USA | Nicole Mairose Dizon |
| Connie & Blyde (comedy) A couple spend the evening planning a robbery in order to pay their rent on time, but they never make it out of the house. | 8′ | USA | Kassy Mahea |
| The Great American Short Story (comedy, local talent) A writer secludes himself in a cabin to write the Great American Short Story. He quickly becomes more interested in creating the perfect environment for writing as opposed to doing any actual work. | 5′ | USA | Daniel Maggio |
| Driving Ms. Saudi (comedy) As of 2018, women are finally allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Inspired by this news, a son must help his Saudi mother put her future in drive when she panics in the drivers seat for the first time. | 2′ | USA/LEBANON | Walid Chaya |
| The Last Knight (comedy) Vasily is a classic example of a man living under his wife’s thumb. His bossy, grumpy wife is nagging at him from morning till night for no apparent reason. Poor guy has accepted his fate, until the day he gets a chance to do something heroic. | 13′ | UKRAINE | Olexander Onufriev |
| Baby (comedy) When a man complains about the child at the next table, he sparks a feud with an infant which he doesn’t understand and just can’t win. | 5′ | USA | Matt Mitchell |
| Snow Globe (fantasy, dark comedy, local talent) A fed up housewife at the edge of reality is planning to murder her husband on Christmas Eve, but when three questionable packages arrive under her tree she must confront her intentions through a magical exploration of time and perspective. | 8′ | USA | Christopher Ryan Laughter |
BLOCK 2: some film contain adult themes.
| Bombay Beach (coming-of-age) Scenes filmed at the Salton Sea. Set in the remote town of Bombay Beach, this coming-of-age story follows a naive young girl who dreams of leaving her trailer park to reunite with her estranged father in Los Angeles. While she fantasizes, her older and wiser sister grapples with protecting her from their bleak reality. | 15′ | USA | Anastasia Howell |
| OCD Serial Killer (comedy) To commit the perfect murder, you must be a meticulous killer! This is a dark comedy about a serial killer with some serious Obsessive Compulsions, discussing his various requisite quirks with fellow convict in the prison cell next to him. | 7′ | USA | Jonathan Rosetti |
| Mary Meet Grace (drama) When a stranger appears in Grace’s life with disturbing news about her long-lost birth mother, she must fight to untangle herself from a dangerous and sinister plan. | 14′ | USA | Faryl Amadeus |
| Membership Revoked (suspense, action) A former police dispatch officer fulfills her dream when she opens her gym but her vision is jeopardized when a former patrol colleague is hired as the manager / personal trainer and is accused by the cleaning lady of harassment. | 5′ | USA | John Aguirre |
| Calling Out Coffee (comedy) Two girls stand off while getting their coffee orders, leaving two guys to wonder what will become of the barista should they get mixed up. | 3′ | USA | Andrew Koltuniuk |
| Day Trip (drama) Maya and Julian embark on a singular trip in the desert. | 13′ | USA | Brian Robau |
Followed by a picture signing with all participating filmmakers.
DAY 3
SUNDAY NOV 13, 2022
2pm: SCRIPTWRITERS & COMPOSERS ROUNDTABLE
| Bread (read here) | Meredith Stisser | Scriptwriter | California |
| Unexpected Love (read here) | Shay Meche | Scriptwriter | Louisiana |
| Lily of the Bay (read here) | Sala Martin | Scriptwriter | California |
| Doctor’s Orders (read here) | Wendy Natividad | Scriptwriter | California |
| Emmett of Xendia | Michael Blomquist | Scriptwriter | California |
| Apocryphal | Hudson Franzoni | Scriptwriter | Massachusetts |
| The Metamorphosis (read here) | Luke Cooper-Martin | Scriptwriter | California |
| Dolores | Michael Seabolt and Gregory Schroeder | Scriptwriter | California |
| Drop Dead (read here) | Frankie Campisano | Scriptwriter | California |
| Don’t say my Name | André Barros | Composer | Portugal |
| Ten Days | Jordan Paul Rousseau | Composer | Netherlands |
| Snow Globe (listen to excerpt here) | Billy Ryder | Composer | USA |
| Day Dream in Paris | Alex Zachariou | Composer | USA |
With open questions from the audience, followed by a picture signing.
3:15pm: MUSIC VIDEOS, DANCE FILMS & VISUAL ARTS (EXPERIMENTAL FILMS)
| Blackberry – Ajay Friese Opening Music Video. | Music Video, 4′ | USA | Mina Sundwall |
| Coming Like A Storm – artist: Reuben and The Dark Filmed in the Mojave Desert. | Music Video, 4′ | USA | Reuben Bullock, Carly Foulkes |
| Wasteland – band: Seether Filmed in the Mojave Desert. | Music Video, 4′ | USA | Genéa Gaudet |
| King – band: Plastic Rhino L.A. rock band Plastic Rhino’s latest single and music video, “King,” illustrates the seven deadly sins with a cringe portrayal of not that fictional characters fighting to be crowned America’s King. | Music Video, 4′ | USA | Ron Geffen |
| Wild Animals – band: Lasers Lasers Birmingham Weird Country Music from Los Angeles. 🌵🌵🌵 | Music Video, 5′ | USA | Stephen Burns |
Followed by a discussion with filmmakers and a picture signing.
| Our Bread’s Unmaking A dance film explores identity through the symbolism of bread-making. Filmed on location in a real, now-defunct and abandoned commercial bakery. | Dance Film, 4′ | USA | Julie Bour, Josh S Rose |
| Love & Lust Lost Directed by YVFF Alumni Kassy Mahea. A visual poem about love, lust, and loss. Narrated by an Italian dancer who finds himself mingled in a passionate trio, exploring the fragility of the heart. | Dance Film, 3′ | USA | Kassy Mahea |
| Doors Doors was created in collaboration with three choreographers who designed scenes of movement with three very different, unique doors. This piece explores moving in outdoor spaces where doors appear in both nature and as brick n mortar. | Dance Film, 7′ | USA | Alisa Rasera-Holden |
| Be Still In a world of excessive noise, one finds stillness. An improvised dance film in collaboration with dancer Mélissa Guérin-Torres, Paris-based composer Arnaud Drieu and award-winning cinematographer Steven Fadellin. | Dance Film, 5′ | USA | Nicole Manoochehri |
| The Wall (digital Screening only here) A street artist creating a gloomy graffiti falls asleep from fatigue. A couple heading for the bar use his spray cans to draw something bright on the wall. Gradually, more and more people join and the wall becomes a wonderful work of art. | Dance Film, 13′ | RUSSIA | Mila Komrakova |
Followed by a discussion with filmmakers and a picture signing.
| Home Coming The road home is paved with good intentions. Filmed in the Mojave Desert. | Visual Art & Experimental, 3′ | USA | Justin Aguirre |
| How to be Animated Lana’s roommate suggests she tries to be a little more animated. Animation ensues. | Visual Art & Experimental, 4′ | USA | Alex Zajicek |
| Ten Essentials Local talent. A man wakes up in the desert chained to a corpse. To be or not to be… | Visual Art & Experimental, 13′ | USA | Travis Greene |
Followed by a discussion with filmmakers and a picture signing.
6pm: Final RED CARPET!
Open to everyone with local photographer Sandra Goodin snapping each and every guest, including you: come as you are!
7pm: Awards and closing event in presence of:
- Miss Yucca Valley Court 2022, and Miss Yucca Valley first and second Princesses!
- special guest Mina Sundwall
- Awards giveaway co-hosted by TV host Kelly Kozakevich and festival director Matt Beurois
- and other surprises!
8pm: Group picture, Mix & Mingle.
MONDAY NOV 14, 2022
Award results publication on our website, release sent to the press.
NOV 11-13, 2022
SPECIAL YUCCA VALLEY PREMIERE ONLINE SCREENING:
THE LAST WITNESS
Watch HERE for free from Nov 11, noon, to Nov 13, 11:30pm.
Starring ALEX PETTYFER (Magic Mike), MICHAEL GAMBON (Harry Potter), TALULAH RILEY (Westworld), GWILYM LEE (The Great). Directed by Piotr Szkopiak. UK.
THE LAST WITNESS is a historical thriller based on the harrowing true events of the Katyn Massacre in Spring 1940. In post-WW2 England, ambitious journalist Stephen Underwood (Alex Pettyfer) comes across a disturbing spate of suicides by Polish soldiers. Sensing a story, his first port of call is Colonel Janusz Pietrowski, a Liaison Officer for the re- settlement of Polish troops under British command. But the meeting with Pietrowski leaves Stephen unsettled, and from here his investigation escalates as he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous, multi-layered conspiracy concerning the execution of 22,000 Polish military and civilians by Stalin’s secret police.
ALL SELECT DIGITAL SCREENINGS
All virtual presentations are free to watch, from Nov 11, noon, to Nov 13, 11:30pm.
| The Wall (digital presentation only here) A street artist creating a gloomy graffiti falls asleep from fatigue. A couple heading for the bar use his spray cans to draw something bright on the wall. Gradually, more and more people join and the wall becomes a wonderful work of art. | Dance Film, 13′ | RUSSIA | Mila Komrakova |
| Legend: Hog-Ziin Tzeng (digital presentation only here) Meet Hog-Ziin Tzeng, who makes ancestral tablets. Originally selling air conditioners, Tzeng came across carving and subsequently, he began to investigate how to make ancestral tablets. His unique craftsmanship has attracted orders from families across Taiwan, most of whom are Hakka. | Documentary, 6′ | TAIWAN | Feeling Wu |
Yucca Valley Film Festival 