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The Yucca Valley Film Festival has just announced a high caliber Jury lineup for its 2026 edition.
The Festival, produced by French powerhouse Matt Beurois and Auregan Falip -the director and producer duo behind “Fancy Like Walker Hayes“, is entering its eighth year with a bang: eight names have been announced to form the Jury of the event this year, and the resumes of these artists are simply humbling.
First, no less than half of the Jury are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and most of the Jury members have been nominated, shortlisted, or considered for an Oscar.
But more than that: if you start counting the festival wins, your head is going to spin: BAFTA, Sundance, Emmy, SXSW, Amnesty, Tribeca, Associated Press, Berlinale, Palm Springs… Individually, these people are committed to the craft and to storytelling. Collectively, the YVFF is putting together an extraordinary league of talents that all have one common denominator: they are all independent artists with a distinct voice.
“In today’s industry, it is more useful to have a direct connection with a creative, established artist than it is to take a selfie with a major star” explains festival founder Auregan. “Putting together this group of amazing filmmakers was absolutely intentional: we wanted independent artists who are going to value the work of young or emerging talents.”
Strikingly, there is no name dropping here. If you’re not working in the movie industry, it is unlikely you’ve heard these names before (maybe a couple of them). But you’ve seen their work: Moana. To Kill a Tiger. Paw Patrol. The Mandalorian. Netflix’s StoryBots. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Among the Jury members is producer and director Kate Chamuris, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences whose producing credits include Miller & Son, a BAFTA Student Film Award winner and Academy Award shortlisted project.
Documentary filmmakers Nisha Pahuja and Mette Cheng Munthe Kaas are definite voices in their field. Pahuja brings an Oscar and Peabody nominated career to the panel. Her documentary To Kill a Tiger premiered at TIFF and won Best Documentary Feature at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Munthe Kaas is a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a Berlinale winner, and also serves as a film commissioner in Norway.
Animation is represented by Siqi Song and Joey Clift. Song is an Oscar nominated filmmaker and Academy and BAFTA member. Her work has included projects for Disney, Mattel, A24 and Netflix. Clift is an alumnus of the YVFF, an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, bringing Peabody and Emmy nominations.
The industry side of the Jury is equally impactful. Ashla Soter, formerly a Tubi executive, oversaw production on more than 150 scripted and unscripted titles before joining Digital Sword as SVP of Production in September 2026. Shane Stanley (returning to the YVFF), a four decade film and television veteran, is a multi Emmy Award winner whose credits include Sony Pictures’ Gridiron Gang and the Netflix number one global hit Double Threat. Both of them will be meeting the filmmakers in person during a mentorship session in Yucca Valley during the festival.
Then there is Gary Daigneault, founder of Joshua Tree radio station Z107.7 and an Associated Press Hall of Fame recognized journalist. Gary has been a longtime supporter of the local film festival and is a rooted stakeholder in the cultural life of the Hi-Desert.
“They are all professionals actively working across film, television, and media today” says festival programmer Matt Beurois. “It is an honor to have them all dedicate some time to our small but mighty film festival. But most of all: their support is a massive signal to the filmmakers: the Jury members are taking time out of their schedules to watch your films. Because they want to support newcomers, and because the framework we created with the YVFF ensures that the curation of films will be at a high level.”
For the eighth edition of YVFF, that Jury member lineup may be making the biggest statement of all.
The Yucca Valley Film Festival runs November 6-8, with additional screenings 4 to 6 organized by the Joshua Tree Film Office.
More on yuccavalleyfilmfestival.com.
