Yucca Valley Film Festival announces awards for 2025

Photo Courtesy of Yucca Valley Film Festival

Filmmakers, residents, and local officials filled the Yucca Room for the festival’s final night.

Co-hosts Chloe Malaisé and Janey Hann announced each award as members of the Miss Yucca Valley Court handed out trophies and cash prizes.

Among the top awards, Milk Baby by Kristen Gerweck Diaz received Best Short Film. Frank Blake was named Best Director for Dual Agency , and Will and Silence by Robert Robb received the Yucca Valley Award.

Other recognitions included 113 Words for You by Bo Qing Tang and Xiao Lan Zeng for Best Movie Poster; Density by Graham M. Bishop for Best Trailer; and Discover Indonesia by Ty Rogers for Best Drone Film.

Motherhood by Nicole Spring received Best Dance Film, and Embers by August Falcon was named Best Music Video.

 In the visual arts category, Lonesome Town by Caleb Garrett earned Best Visual Art. Festival Picks went to Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad by Nicholas Luciano and The Rain by Kā’eo Luke.

Sheepdogs by Brian Knappmiller was named Best Documentary, and The Lights Above by Luke J. Salewski received Best Student Film.

Tied winners for Best Script were Conch by Kevin Bibo and The Spider’s Warning by Staci Mallett. Pow! by Joey Clift and One Final Day by Paul Hollingsworth shared Best Animated Short Film.

The evening program also included appearances from Copper Mountain College’s mascot, Spike, and performances by the Supernova All Stars and Stardust Team. Messages were presented from Joshua Tree National Park and the Yucca Valley Youth Commission.

Organizers said attendance exceeded available seating, and additional chairs were brought in for the audience. The 8th Yucca Valley Film Festival is scheduled for November 6–8, 2026.

2025 Yucca Valley Film Festival Award Winners
Best Movie Poster – 113 Words for You — Bo Qing Tang, Xiao Lan Zeng
Best Trailer – Density — Graham M. Bishop
Best Drone Film – Discover Indonesia — Ty Rogers
Best Dance Film – Motherhood — Nicole Spring
Best Music Video – Embers — August Falcon
Best Visual Art – Lonesome Town — Caleb Garrett
Festival Pick #1 – Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad — Nicholas Luciano
Festival Pick #2 – The Rain — Kā’eo Luke
Best Documentary – Sheepdogs — Brian Knappmiller
Best Student Film – The Lights Above — Luke J. Salewski
Best Script (tie) – Conch — Kevin Bibo
Best Script (tie) – The Spider’s Warning — Staci Mallett
Best Animated Short Film (tie) – Pow! — Joey Clift
Best Animated Short Film (tie) – One Final Day — Paul Hollingsworth
Best Short Film – Milk Baby — Kristen Gerweck Diaz
Best Director – Dual Agency — Frank Blake
Yucca Valley Award – Will and Silence — Robert Robb

For a complete list of winners, visit yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com.

Hilary Sloane

Hilary Sloane

After a long successful career as a Photostylist and producer in New York and Los Angeles, Hilary Sloane moved to the Morongo Basin and began a new career as a journalist and documentary photographer, getting a journalism certification from Michigan State. Hilary is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) and has documented the work of local and International non-profits. She has a podcast on Sound Cloud and is looking forward to adding more. Her favorite pastime is watching the wildlife around her home, traveling, and meeting new people.