The Yucca Valley Film Festival, launched in 2019, is a signature event of the Town of Yucca Valley and has become a staple cultural event for the Morongo Basin. The 8th edition will take place November 6–8, 2026, at the Yucca Valley Community Center as an in-person event. 

Each year, the festival brings together filmmakers and audiences for a three-day weekend of screenings with the longest red carpet in the Hi-Desert. Since its launch, the festival has attracted international filmmakers and A-name Hollywood stars such as Rosanna Arquette and William Baldwin, generated thousands of press articles, and established itself as a family-friendly gathering point for the region’s film and arts community.

The festival has received broad recognition for its cultural contribution, including acknowledgments from the U.S. Congress, the California Senate, the California Secretary of State, the County of San Bernardino, the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Basin Wide Foundation. It has also ranked 14 times among the Best Reviewed Film Festivals on FilmFreeway and placed in the top three for Best Annual Event in the Morongo Basin, voted by more than 50,000 residents. In 2025, the event welcomed 1,500 attendees and featured actor James Morrison (24, Twin Peaks) as its masterclass headliner, who was subsequently honored by both the California Secretary of State and San Bernardino County following his participation.

Film Festival Submissions

Filmmakers residing in Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin can submit their work for free, while residents of the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will receive up to 50% discount on their submission. Submit on the YVFF website.