By all measures, the 6th Annual Yucca Valley Film Festival was considered a success.
Running from Friday through Sunday, the film festival drew nearly one thousand attendees throughout the weekend, and organizers reported standing room-only crowds for several of the screenings.
On Sunday night, 17 awards were given out by moderator Chloe Malaise and Festival Director Matt Beurois co-hosted the final event, with five awards going to local artists and movies filmed locally in the hi-desert.
Local artists awarded this year are:
- JD Rudometkin with “The Sheep Are Safely Gathered In”
- Stephen Funk with “Existential Action Thriller”
- Shannon Morzov with “Drain”, filmed in Joshua Tree
- Natalie Faye takes home the prestigious Yucca Valley Award for “Four Feet Away”
All 2024 Yucca Valley Film Festival Awards:
- Best Movie Poster Koroneburg Jake Villadolid WINNER
- Best Trailer Vida Maria Valdez WINNER
- Best Visual Art The Sheep Are Safely Gathered In: STEP JAYNE JD Rudometkin WINNER
- Best Dance Film Drain Shannon Morzov HONORABLE MENTION
- Best Music Video Jonah Kagen – Matches Zebulon Griffin WINNER
- Keep Mojave Free Existential Action Thriller Stephen Funk WINNER
- Best Student Film I am who i am Caleb Townsend WINNER
- Best Script Nice Boy Cathy Trope WINNER
- Best Documentary Future West: Origin James Tate Wilson WINNER Ex-Aequo
- Best Documentary Not Just An Influencer – Beau Martino Beau Martino WINNER Ex-Aequo
- Best Animated Short Film Monster Piers Goffart, Eric Giessmann WINNER
- Best Animated Short Film Chain Ling Han HONORABLE MENTION
- Best Music Composer Elli and her monster team Amaury laurent Bernier WINNER
- Best Music Composer The Matriarch Michael Drew HONORABLE MENTION
- Best Director Out on a Limb Filip Kojic WINNER
- Best Short Film Darcine’s Day Aaron Goffman WINNER
- Yucca Valley Award Four Feet Away Natalie Faye WINNER
