Local & Community
Local High School Filmmakers Prepare for Student Film Festival as Palm Springs International Film Festival Wraps Up
The final screenings of the Palm Springs International Film Festival are wrapping up tonight, but for some Coachella Valley students, their film journey is just beginning.
Brett Rosen reports from the Palm Springs Cultural Center, one of several venues hosting festival events. That same location will soon welcome a different kind of showcase — a student short film festival featuring projects created by local high school filmmakers.
Rosen spoke with students from Desert Hot Springs High School who recently completed a short film titled The Unlucky Ghost. Created by four seniors, the project was driven by a shared goal of having fun while producing something they could truly be proud of.
The student festival is being organized by the Outreach Film Project. According to the group, more than 30 short films will be screened and judged by a panel of industry professionals. Founder Kevin Gebert says the festival is designed to inspire the next generation of filmmakers, whether they choose to pursue film school or enter the industry directly.
For students like Daniel Guevara and Jacob Trout, the experience has already sparked new ambitions. Both say participating in the project has increased their interest in pursuing film in the future and given them confidence they did not have before.
Beyond career exploration, the students say the project helped them grow personally, especially when it came to speaking on camera and overcoming shyness.
The student short film festival is expected to take place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center in the coming weeks.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
January 12, 2026
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