SALINAS VALLEY — Nearly 300 people attended the inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival earlier this month, bringing independent filmmakers and audiences together for a day of short films and feature-length storytelling at King City Cinemas.
The Oct. 10 event, presented by the Arts Council for Monterey County and Sol Treasures, drew approximately 250 ticket holders, along with filmmakers and volunteers, according to organizers. The festival featured 37 films across nine screening blocks under the theme “Stories on the Edge.”
“We are incredibly proud of the immense talent showcased at our first-ever festival,” said Jacquie Atchison, executive director at Arts4MC. “These filmmakers poured their hearts into their work, and seeing our community come out to support them on the big screen was a truly special moment for the cultural landscape.”
Organizers announced the festival’s award winners on Oct. 22, recognizing filmmakers across 13 categories, including narrative and documentary films, student work, animation, cinematography and directing.
Julia Ruiz received the Best Directing Award for “The Prodigy,” while Cole Webley won Best Narrative Feature for “Omaha.” LiliArlen Gomez won Best Narrative Short for “¿Qué fue de Lalo?” and Cristian Jesus Vega received Best Student Narrative for “¿Qué Es Un Niño?”
In the documentary categories, Jesus Cruz won Best Documentary Feature for “Soul Searchin’,” Megan Mcdrew won Best Documentary Short for “Going Inside: Empathy in Action,” and Josselyne Romero received Best Student Documentary for “Pinnacles National Park.”
Other winners included Kenny Santana for Best First Time Filmmaker with “Loving Melody”; David Viladiguez for Daring Originality with “Juanito”; Marco Navarro for Best Thriller with “Little One”; Julian Sumano for Best Animated Short with “Wish To Be a Fish”; Melissa Smedley for Best Environmental with “Land Relief”; and Nick Kitchens for Best Cinematography with “The Man from the South.”
Jude Yriarte, executive director of Sol Treasures, said the response to the festival was strong, with filmmakers describing the event as intimate, welcoming and embracing.
“Every festival develops its own personality, often reflecting the character of the community that hosts it,” Yriarte said. “As we continue to build The Pinnacles Film Festival, we’re excited to develop our own unique identity, one that reflects the spirit of South Monterey County and creates a memorable experience for filmmakers and audiences alike.”
Audience members also praised the films’ variety and selection, Yriarte noted. One recurring concern was that attendees could not see every film they wanted to watch. Some suggested expanding the festival to multiple days and screening films more than once.
Yriarte said organizers are already planning next year’s festival and will announce the dates soon. Reflecting on the inaugural event, she highlighted the connections formed through the films and the people who shared them.
“What made this festival so special wasn’t simply the remarkable films, but the connection between the people who created them and the people who came to experience them,” Yriarte said. “Stories have an extraordinary ability to bring us together, to challenge our perspectives, and to help us understand lives beyond our own. To every filmmaker who trusted us with their story, and every audience member who came with an open mind and an open heart, thank you. You helped create something truly special here in South Monterey County.”
The festival’s 24 Official Selections, in addition to the award winners, included: “Unconditional” by Albert Gregory; “Limitless Potential” by Julissa Bejar-Fernandez, Emily Hernandez and Adrian Espindola; “The Grandparents” by Maria Cano; “The Nightcap” by Nina Martina; “Lemonade” by Solomon Sloan; “Secrets” by Sherry Halperin; “On The Road” by Lindsey Policar; “Bird Song” by Timothy David Orme; “Rumors of the Dead” by Nils Myers; “Die Perfectly” by Shuo Yang; “The Last Step” by KitaOne Production; “Condor Canyon” by Mike Buffo; “Apollo and I” and “When We Dream Of Rockets” by Kaitlyn Astro; “Eat My Poem” and “Wheat Dreams” by Rebecca King; “King City, The City with a Future” by John and Karen Jernigan; “Pinnacles National Park” by Steven Bumgardner; “Mirage of Independence” and “Tears From The Sky” by Julian Sumano; “Thursdays” by Johnny Eick; “Long Valley” by Robert Machoian; “Flicker” by Francisco Vega Martinez; and “Outatime” by Gilbert Wright.
The festival was supported by the City of King, Robert Cullen of Farmers Insurance, David and Susan Gill, Hartnell College, the Monterey County Film Commission, Cal State Monterey Bay and Green Rubber Kennedy Ag. In-kind sponsors included King City Cinemas, the King City Rustler and Scheid Vineyards.
More information about the festival and future submission deadlines is available at soltreasures.com/thepinnaclesfilmfestival.
PINNACLES FILM FESTIVAL 2026 AWARD WINNERS
Best Directing: Julia Ruiz, “The Prodigy”
Best Narrative Feature: Cole Webley, “Omaha”
Best Narrative Short: LiliArlen Gomez, “¿Qué fue de Lalo?”
Best Student Narrative: Cristian Jesus Vega, “¿Qué Es Un Niño?”
Best Documentary Feature: Jesus Cruz, “Soul Searchin’”
Best Documentary Short: Megan Mcdrew, “Going Inside: Empathy in Action”
Best Student Documentary: Josselyne Romero, “Pinnacles National Park”
Best First Time Filmmaker: Kenny Santana, “Loving Melody”
Daring Originality: David Viladiguez, “Juanito”
Best Thriller: Marco Navarro, “Little One”
Best Animated Short: Julian Sumano, “Wish To Be a Fish”
Best Environmental: Melissa Smedley, “Land Relief”
Best Cinematography: Nick Kitchens, “The Man from the South”
