SALINAS VALLEY — A documentary short film set in the Salinas Valley has been officially selected for the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and will have its world premiere during the festival’s celebrated Short Film Program.
“The Long Valley” is a 13-minute documentary showcasing the daily lives and landscapes in Monterey County’s agricultural communities. It features a unique narrative structure that reappropriates the talking-head format to provoke questions rather than provide answers.
The film is a 433 Pictures production, co-directed by Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck and Robert Machoian, who bring a personal lens to the project. Ojeda-Beck taught in the Cinematic Arts and Technology department at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), and Machoian grew up in King City.
“We wanted to document the Salinas Valley and its people because we both have personal connections to the area,” Machoian said. Ojeda-Beck added, “This film continues our ongoing exploration of rural communities in the U.S. using a photobook aesthetic, bridging the space between still photography and film.”
Shot using the Alexa Mini Pro, “The Long Valley” offers a poignant meditation on human resilience, the passage of time, and the power of dreaming. Through a series of visually striking tableaus, it documents the daily lives of Central and South American immigrants who form the backbone of one of California’s most vital agricultural regions.
Often referred to as “The Salad Bowl of the World,” the Salinas Valley is not only a major agricultural hub but also a vibrant community with stories that resonate far beyond its fields.
The film’s associate producers were Ana Sanchez, Saul Cardenas and Chris Carpenter, who has deep roots in Monterey County and teaches at the Cinematic Arts and Technology department at CSUMB. He also serves as a board director for the Monterey County Film Commission. LiliArlen Gomez, a recent CSUMB graduate, is credited as assistant camera and has begun working as an administrative associate at the Monterey County Film Commission.
Out of 11,153 submissions to the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, only 57 short films were selected, representing work from 28 countries and territories. “The Long Valley” was completed in November 2024 and blends Spanish dialogue with English subtitles.
“This project is a love letter to the resilience and dreams of the people who make this region so extraordinary,” Carpenter said.
The film will premiere as part of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2. The short will also be available for online viewing from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, allowing audiences nationwide to experience its stunning visuals and thought-provoking narrative.
