Yucca Valley Film Festival spotlights young audiences with free kids program
The Yucca Valley Film Festival returns this weekend, celebrating creativity, community, and the joy of storytelling. The festival runs November 7 through 9, and one of its most anticipated highlights is the Kids Program, a free event that brings color, laughter, and heart to the big screen.
The Kids Program at the Yucca Valley Film Festival has become a beloved tradition, drawing hundreds of families each year. The exceptional lineup of short films is made for children under ten, but the stories offer plenty for parents to enjoy as well, from artistry and humor to deeper layers of meaning.
Screenings begin Saturday, November 8, at 1:00 p.m. in the Yucca Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Admission is free, and doors open early.
This year’s program includes:
The Family Photo — a touching space story about an astronaut who leaves a family photo on the moon, only to have it discovered by curious aliens.
Pow! — a playful look at a Native American boy racing to charge his video game during an intertribal powwow, surrounded by music, movement, and family.
Denmark — a 3D LEGO adventure where two friends attempt a heist in downtown L.A., only to discover that teamwork and friendship matter more than gold.
Snow Bear — was created by an animator who worked on The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Mulan. It follows a lonely polar bear as it searches for connection in a changing Arctic world.
Kāinga Tupu (Homeland) tells the story of the endangered New Zealand forest parrot, the Kākāpō. The short created by a Twentynine Palms artist follows the bird as it fights to protect its home.
And Christopher & the Bug, a gentle fable about an unlikely friendship between a grumpy owl and a cheerful little bug.
On the Z107.7 FM Up Close Show, which aired October 24, festival director Matt Beurois spoke with host Gary Daigneault about the festival’s growth and the range of films this year, from local stories to international animation. He encouraged residents and visitors to reserve free spots for the Kids Program and other events, including masterclasses and opening night, at YuccaValleyFilmFestival.com.
