Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – As the high season comes to an end and as food prices continue to surge across the country, FIND food bank is experiencing a higher need of both food donations and volunteers during the summer months.

Telemundo 15 anchor Hernan Quintas explains the different ways that you can support our local food bank and our community.

For more information, including how to donate or volunteer, visit findfoodbank.org/

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A pool serviceman who fatally beat a 93-year-old Palm Desert woman while trying to steal from her was sentenced today to 19 years to life in state prison.

An Indio jury in April convicted Benjamin Cabrera Briones, 62, of Thousand Palms of second-degree murder, as well as burglary and forgery, for the 2021 slaying of Jean Grace Willrich.

During a hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony Villalobos imposed the sentence required under state law for the crimes.

“She suffered massive blunt force trauma to her face,” Deputy District Attorney Hawlee Valente told jurors at the close of the trial. “He beat her, bludgeoned her repeatedly. He applied all of his body weight on her collar bone. That’s intent to kill.”   

Briones, who was both a pool serviceman and general handyman, had gone to the residence on the pretext of fixing a toilet. The prosecution, however, argued that his real motivation was theft.

“He intended to defraud, and the victim was an easy target,” Valente said.

On the morning of Nov. 29, 2021, the defendant arrived in his work truck clearly marked “Briones Pools” at the victim’s house in the 77000 block of Michigan Drive and remained for almost exactly 50 minutes — a time frame that sheriff’s detectives were able to confirm relying on tape from security surveillance video cameras at neighbors’ properties, according to the prosecution.

Valente said he wore latex gloves during and after the murder.   

After leaving the property, Briones drove to an ATM outside an Albertson’s supermarket and deposited one of her checks into his business account, according to the prosecution.

Deputy Public Defender Richard Verlato asserted Briones did not have an intent to kill when he arrived at the home — to which he’d been invited — but in the course of speaking with Willrich, “he freaked out,” causing him to lose control and fatally assault the woman, for whom he had once worked maintaining her pool until she fired him over a payment dispute.   

On Nov. 30, 2021, a concerned friend, Patricia McDonald, went to the victim’s house and used a spare key to enter, finding Willrich “laying in a puddle of dried blood, her face swollen,” according to trial testimony.   

Sheriff’s Investigator Gustavo Castaneda testified that during an interview with Briones, the defendant admitted turning hostile when Willrich started questioning why he was walking around her home and not fixing the toilet.

“That’s when he proceeded to assault her,” Castaneda said. “Mr. Briones explained to us how he punched her, choked her and eventually got on top of her. He continued to punch her, hit her with both open and closed fists because she wouldn’t stop screaming. When she stopped moving, he got up, grabbed (her) checks and left.”  

Valente said after a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence, blood-stained shoes, a shirt, pants and other items of evidentiary value were seized. A notepad bearing names and addresses was also located, and “Willrich’s name and address were the only ones crossed out,” the deputy district attorney said.   

Briones was arrested without incident on Dec. 3, 2021, during a traffic stop near Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra drives in Rancho Mirage.   

The defendant had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted felon who choked his girlfriend to death during a domestic conflict in the parking lot of an Indio condominium complex was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison.

An Indio jury in April convicted 44-year-old Eduardo Alvarez of the 2020 slaying of 32-year-old Madeleine Gutierrez of Indio.   

During a hearing at the Larson Justice Center Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling imposed the sentence required under state law for the crime.

According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, Alvarez and Gutierrez were in a tumultuous relationship that started in 2018. Their final conflict happened in the predawn hours of Oct. 17, 2020, when the victim called 911 after an argument outside the Encanto Apartments in the 46-700 block of Clinton Street.   

Prosecutors said Indio police officers arrived shortly before 4 a.m. and found Gutierrez standing with a building security guard, complaining that Alvarez had forcibly taken her car keys.

When officers asked whether she wanted to leave in her vehicle while Alvarez remained behind for her safety, the woman said no, instead telling the policemen she preferred the defendant stay with her. The two then left in her hatchback.

A little over an hour later, Alvarez called 911, claiming he and his girlfriend had just been attacked in the parking lot of the Summer Breeze Condos in the 47-300 block of Monroe Street and that he was passing out, prosecutors said.

When police reached the location, they discovered the defendant in a fetal position, laying next to Gutierrez, who was unconscious, on her back in front of her vehicle, arms outstretched at her sides and exhibiting “facial injuries and some marks around her neck,” the brief stated.   

Paramedics pronounced her dead 20 minutes later. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation.   

Gutierrez “feigned unconsciousness” as he lay in the parking lot, betraying his alertness by forcing his eyes shut while paramedics checked him for injuries. He had minor swelling on the left side of his forehead, but “no other obvious signs of trauma,” court papers said.

He was examined at a hospital, then cleared to leave with detectives, who questioned him at length. When asked about the circumstances of Gutierrez’s death, Alvarez gave different accounts of what transpired.   

He told investigators initially that he and Gutierrez had been out most of the night, going to places in Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs before heading over to the Encanto Apartments, where his niece resided. He said there had been a minor tiff that prompted Gutierrez to get angry and try to “run him over,” but that it was a “playful” stunt. He told detectives he took her keys from her as a precaution, according to the brief.   

The defendant said they then drove to his residence and parked outside. In one version of events, Alvarez indicated the two were talking next to her car when a pair of unknown men approached and shouted “Where you from?” A tussle ensued, and Alvarez said he was punched in the head and fell to the ground, at which point the men turned their attention to Gutierrez, who struggled with them before she was knocked unconscious, court papers said.   

In another version, Alvarez said he and Gutierrez were enjoying a romantic moment in the open rear of her car when the two men accosted them, grabbed Alvarez by his feet and pulled him out of the car, causing his head to hit the pavement and stun him. He said Gutierrez fought with the men, but couldn’t recall any other details.   

Detectives picked out inconsistencies, including signs that Gutierrez had been dragged through a field, with dirt and grass in her hair and clothes, prompting Gutierrez to start yawning, remarking, “I need a lawyer,” ending the police interview, the prosecution said.

He had documented prior felony and misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence, resisting arrest, assault and violating a restraining order.   

His ex-wife, identified only as “E.L.,” divorced him after he choked her into unconsciousness in front of their children, documents stated. The defendant also admitted choking a fellow inmate in their jail cell.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — As Israel and Iran exchange missiles tonight, local Jewish community members are feeling the weight of the conflict.

“They don’t seem to be able to resolve any of it. I mean, we’re on the brink of all out war,” Marlene Lynn said.

It comes as several local Jewish community members are on a trip in Tel Aviv, and are now spending the night in a bomb shelter.

“They were looking forward to being at Tel Aviv Pride today and it got canceled. They’re getting a dose of what it’s like to be an Israeli and living there where you have a safe room in every apartment,” Rabbi David Novak said.

For some, their frustrations are mounting as Israel is already battling Hamas, with dozens of hostages still in Gaza and over 50,000 Palestinians killed.

“Right now there’s 53 hostages and we think about 23 of them are still alive. I hope that they’re not forgotten while Israel is going after the Iranian nuclear capability,” Rabbi Novak said.

“What has happened with Hamas in Gaza is horrifying beyond words. We don’t see a close end to that in sight,” Rob Bergstein said.

The war on both fronts is a painful reminder for some of the worst parts of history.

“The Holocaust happened so I know it can happen again and the scariest part is it can happen here. Look at all the anti-Semitism that’s going on here in the United States,” Lynn said.

“Our go to is often feeling kind of a knee jerk reaction about, ‘oh, my God, it’s happening again.’ But, I hope that we can look past that and look at peacekeeping efforts,” Adina Lawson said.

As congregation members ring in Shabbat, some say they’ll be leaning on their faith.

“No matter what is happening in the world, if I can come in to Friday night services, I am comforted, and I can go back out into the world,” Bergstein said.

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Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Desert Hot Springs man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s lover was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Jose Ernesto Martinez, 32, was found guilty of first-degree murder in April 2025.

Martinez was arrested June 26, 2021, on suspicion of gunning down then-27-year-old Isaac Valles of Rancho Mirage earlier that morning. He allegedly killed Valles at the conclusion of a domestic dispute, according to the Cathedral City Police Department, which did not elaborate on the nature of the argument.  

Officers sent to the 31800 block of Neuma Drive about 2:40 a.m. that day found the victim lying in the roadway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Despite first responders’ attempts to revive him, Valles was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives collected “ample witness statements and crime scene evidence” that pointed to Martinez as the suspect, according to the department. He was arrested in Desert Hot Springs about two hours after police initially arrived on scene, jail records show.

He had no documented felony convictions in Riverside County at the time.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is opening a new exhibition, Section 14 The Untold Story, on June 14, 2025, at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. The exhibition sheds light on the complex and often painful history of Section 14, a square mile of reservation land at the heart of Palm Springs.

The exhibition centers around a 16-minute documentary film featuring personal stories from Tribal Elders who lived on Section 14. Their testimonies recall life in the community and the injustices faced by Tribal families. The surrounding gallery offers an array of historical documents and archival evidence that illustrate efforts by private and governmental entities to displace the Agua Caliente people, as well as the Tribe’s enduring fight to reclaim its rights and preserve its culture.

Section 14 The Untold Story not only highlights the struggles endured by the Tribe but also offers a powerful narrative of resilience, cultural identity, and sovereignty. For tribal members, it’s a step in ensuring that the story of Section 14 is told from the perspective of those who lived it.

Museum Details:Agua Caliente Cultural Museum140 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm SpringsOpen Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Closed Mondays)Admission includes access to the Changing GalleryMore info: accmuseum.org/tickets

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The United States Postal Service is raising awareness through the month of June about dog bites. This comes after the USPS 2024 report found over 770 postal carriers in California were bit by dogs. 

Officials said this ranks California at the top of the nation for carrier dog bites — something they want to improve by spreading awareness and telling owners steps they can take.

Palm Springs native and local Letter Carrier Angelita Ordonez was once chased by a dog during her usual route through the city. She said since then, she’s been more aware of dogs in neighborhoods, but she still hopes the community will help the issue.

“Keep your dogs inside behind the yard,” Ordonez said. “If we’re coming to the door, of course we ring the doorbell, we want to make sure that dog is put away in another room – you never know it might attack.”

All carriers with USPS are trained on dealing with potentially dangerous dogs with a scanner, dog repellant spray and taught to use their mail satchel for protection.

USPS officials report the mail carriers are trained to:

Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard;

Never startle a dog;

Keep their eyes on any dog;

Never assume a dog will not bite;

Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and

Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping.

But they also say there are steps owners can take to prevent the situation from happening in the first place, and some local pet owners agree even if their dogs like the mail carriers.

“I think it needs to be addressed for the mail guys because I’m sure it can be really hard on them,” Silke Bayer said. “But on the other side they’re like my dog. She really loves to meet them and see them. ”

“I always think there should be a barrier between a dog and whomever you know a leash…you don’t know how the dogs can react to the human,” Jesse Sandoval said. “Your neighbor represents you [and] you represent your neighbor. So if you’re a true community, you should be considerate of that.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear Ordonez’s story and from local pet owners on the awareness month and its impact on local carriers.

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City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – With a court decision pending on the fate of National Guard troops deployed in the city, roughly 200 U.S. Marines moved into downtown Los Angeles today to protect federal buildings amid continuing protests over ongoing immigration raids in the Southland.

Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51 — the contingent of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms ordered to deploy to the city by President Donald Trump — said 200 Marines will take their positions starting at noon Friday protecting the federal building downtown. The move will free up National Guard troops — who have been primarily protecting federal property over the past week of unrest — to serving a more protective role for federal agents conduction enforcement operations in the field.   

“I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities,” Sherman told reporters during a morning briefing. “Rather, they’ll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel.”  

Sherman said some National Guard troops have already been doing protective work for federal agents conducting immigration enforcement activities, but they have not engaged in any police-type work or made any arrests or detentions.

The arrival of the Marines comes one day after a federal judge in Northern California ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump federalized 2,000 National Guard troops last weekend as nightly protests were held in downtown Los Angeles in response to raids being carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump later added another 2,000 troops to the order.   

Newsom and other local leaders vehemently objected to the troop deployment, arguing it was unnecessary and would heighten tensions and potentially lead to more violent protests.  

In Thursday’s ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco wrote that Trump’s actions federalizing National Guard troops — who are normally under the control of the governor — did not follow congressionally mandated procedure.

“His actions were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the judge wrote. “He must therefore return control of theCalifornia National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”  

Hours later, Breyer’s ruling was stayed by a three-judge appellate panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in response to a Trump administration notice of appeal, temporarily keeping the National Guard troops under federal control pending another hearing on Tuesday.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held an eventful news conference in Los Angeles to discuss ongoing ICE operations in the Southland. She declared, “We are not going away,” moments before Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was forcibly removed from the news conference, forced onto a hallway floor and placed in handcuffs.   

The rough treatment of Padilla was widely condemned, including by Newsom, who called it “outrageous, dictatorial and shameful,” and by Mayor Karen Bass, who labeled it “absolutely abhorrent and outrageous.”   

Thursday’s dramatic events came as tensions sparked by immigration enforcement and the resulting protests in the L.A. area remained heightened — with a dusk-to-dawn downtown curfew still in effect, leading to a reduction in confrontations with police — though arrests continued to mount.

The curfew affects a roughly one-square-mile area of downtown from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly. The curfew applies to an area between the Golden State (5) and Harbor (110) freeways, and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway to where the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway and Golden State Freeway merge. That area includes Skid Row, Chinatown, and the Arts and Fashion districts.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, 13 people were arrested Thursday night into Friday morning for curfew violations. Another 33 people were arrested overnight for failure to disperse, while one was arrested for allegedly resisting a police officer and one for aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter. One person detained for a curfew violation was arrested for an outstanding robbery warrant, police said.   

While most of the protests have been concentrated near the federal Metropolitan Detention Center downtown and the nearby federal building and City Hall, smaller, scattered protests were held this week at the DoubleTree Hotel in Whittier, the Westin Hotel in Pasadena and the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downey, where demonstrators believed federal ICE agents were staying.

Protests have been occurring daily in the area since Friday, when ICE agents carried out a series of immigration enforcement raids, detaining dozens of people.

Prior to the curfew, the nightly protests often devolved into violence, with some demonstrators hurling objects or fireworks at police, who often responded by firing non-lethal weapons or tear gas.

Bass and community leaders took issue Thursday with suggestions by Trump and others that the entire city was under a siege of violence necessitating deployment of the military, including the 4,000 federalized National Guard troops and 700 active-duty U.S. Marines.’

“To characterize what is going on in our city as a city of mayhem is just an outright lie,” Bass said at an afternoon news conference attended by dozens of local faith and community leaders.

The mayor pointed to comments made by Noem Thursday morning that described the city as a “war zone.”   

“There’s no one up here that sees Los Angeles like that,” Bass said. “This is not all of Los Angeles. This is isolated to a few blocks in a city that is 500 square miles. And out of those 500 square miles, the protests — and especially the protests that devolved into violence — represent half a square mile.”   

Bass said the raids were spreading fear in the community, preventing some people from going to work or school. She said some raids that occurred Thursday took place at “emergency rooms and homeless shelters.”   

And she again repeated her assertion that protests in the city would stop immediately if federal immigration authorities discontinued enforcement raids.

“We want peace to come to our city,” Bass said, adding that such an action “needs to begin in Washington, and we need to stop the raids.”  

Noem said the enforcement operations were targeting violent criminals. During her news conference, photos of criminals detained during the Southland operations were shown on video screens.

“We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor (Newsom) and that this mayor (Bass) placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into this city,” Noem said, referring to the state and city’s so-called “sanctuary” policies, which prohibit the use of state and local resources and personnel for federal immigration enforcement.   

Los Angeles and other cities across the Southland and the country are expected to see large-scale “No Kings” protests on Saturday held in conjunction with a U.S. military parade scheduled in Washington, D.C. The parade ostensibly will celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, but it also falls on Trump’s 79th birthday.   

Law enforcement agencies across the region are likely to be on heightened alert due to the planned protests, including a large-scale gathering expected outside Los Angeles City Hall. National Guard troops and Marines will also likely be in place, continuing their mission of protecting federal facilities, thanks to the federal appeals court ruling Thursday night.   

The court action stemmed from a lawsuit brought late Monday by Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta following Trump’s escalation of military forces in the Los Angeles area.

In his initial ruling Thursday evening, Breyer said the issue is “the president exercising his authority, and the president is, of course, limited. That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George.”   

The judge indicated Trump’s deployment of 4,000 members of California’s National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles — over Newsom’s strenuous objections — was legally deficient. The judge also was dubious about Trump’s insistence that the unrest in Los Angeles posed a “danger of rebellion.”  

The judge said Trump did not appear to have met a legal requirement that such orders must pass through the governor of the state involved.   

Breyer declined to rule on Newsom’s request to block the call-up of 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, saying any action from the bench seemed premature because the troops haven’t arrived in the city.

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Cynthia White

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs International ShortFest announced the programs and participants for its annual Forum as well as the jury members.

The ShortFest Forum features a lineup of panels, roundtable discussions, and interactive sessions that will bring together industry experts and filmmakers. The Forum will take place June 27 through June 29 at the Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs. Jury members will fete Academy Award-Qualifying, Student Shorts, and Special Jury Awards.

Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, screenings for the Palm Springs International ShortFest will be presented at the Festival Theaters in Palm Springs from June 24 through June 30. 

Juried award winners will be announced on Sunday, June 29 at the Awards Brunch. Presentations include awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award® qualifying awards.

This year’s ShortFest jury members include:

Best of the Festival Award

Caroline Lindy – (Director, Your Monster)

Carolina Groppa – (Producer, Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul)

Cooper Raiff – (Director, Cha Cha Real Smooth)

Best Animated Short

Ahkeyah Andrada – Director of Development, Lord Miller

Mireia Vilanova – Producer, Cartuna

Ramin Zahed – Editor In Chief, Animation Magazine

Best Documentary Short

Lauren Cioffi – Documentary Producer

Isis Masoud – Casting Director/Filmmaker/Actress, the Nonfiction Hotlist

Lauren Thelen – Programming Director, Nashville Film Festival

Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes

Manuel Betancourt – Critic, FilmWeek

Imani Davis – Film Programmer, American Cinematheque

Lucas Ford – Producer, Ford Films

Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes & Under

Julien Levesque – Agent, The Gersh Agency

Peter Debruge – Chief Film Critic, Variety

Karsten Runquist – Filmmaker

Best International Short

Sola Fasehun – Founder, Co-Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival

Roberto Larios – TV Literary Agent, Verve Talent & Literary Agency

Ritesh Mehta – Story Consultant, Programmer, Freelance Journalist & Critic

Best U.S. Short

Marvin Lemus – Writer/Director

Craig Parish – Senior Programmer, Slamdance Film Festival

Mia Vicino – West Coast Editor, Letterboxd

Best Comedy Short

Sarah Carbiener – Writer/Producer

Aanch Khaneja – Producer

Matt Klasco – Manager/Producer, Adventure Media

Best LGBTQ+ Short

Jade Fox – Creative Consultant/Creator

Tracy Gilchrist – VP, Editorial & Special Projects, EqualPride

Daniel Talbott – Screenwriter/Director/Producer

Best Midnight Short

Lauren Botchan – Coordinator Creative Development, New Line Cinema

Meera Menon – Director

Brandt Wrightsman – VP Production & Development US Film & TV, Anton Corp

Best Student Animated Short & Best Student International Short

Pasqual Gutierrez – Director/Writer, Cliqua

Sue-Ellen Chitunya – Producer/Filmmaker

Kate Sharp – Literary Manager/Producer, Bellevue Productions

Best Student Documentary & Best Student U.S. Short

Debra Birnbaum – Editor-in-Chief, Gold Derby

Jaqueline Mosher – Manager, Rain Management Group

Brock Williams – Producer, Boxcar Films

This year’s Forum programs and participants include: 

Short to Feature

Friday, June 27 — 10:00am – 11:00am

Taking the giant step from shorts to feature filmmaking doesn’t have to be intimidating! Hear from our panel of seasoned filmmakers about their own journeys and learnings as they stepped into making features for the first time, and discover the best way to prepare yourself for the next chapter.

Panelists: Jesy Odio (Producer, Everyday in Kaimukī), Josh Margolin (Director, Thelma), Pasqual Gutierrez (Director, Serious People), Valerie Steinberg (Executive Producer, The Inspection, Disney’s Bite Size Halloween)

Moderator: Peter Debruge (Chief Film Critic, Variety)

Pitch Like A Pro

Friday, June 27 — 11:30am – 12:30pm

Don’t miss one of our most popular events, centered on the art of perfecting your pitch. Hear from industry experts about do’s and don’ts for pitching and tips on getting your delivery just right. Submit your pitch ahead of time for the chance to pitch directly to the panelists and receive feedback live! Three pitches will be pre-selected and confirmed prior to the panel. The panel is open to all, advance registration required for those wanting to pitch.

Panelists: Aanch Khaneja (Producer, ¡WOW!), Katie White (Producer, Best Summer Ever), Matt Rosen (Manager, Navigation), Constanza Castro (Producer, Papa Melissa, 271 Films)

Moderator: Manuel Betancourt (Critic, FilmWeek)

Going Viral: Lessons from the Creator Economy

Friday, June 27 — 1:00pm – 2:00pm

In a world where content creation is king, what can filmmakers learn from viral creators? This dynamic conversation brings together digital storytellers who have cracked the code of online virality alongside industry executives seasoned in this fast-paced world. We’ll explore how short-form content is evolving, the creative strategies behind breakout success across platforms, and what narrative and audience-building techniques translate best in the age of algorithms.

Panelists: Adriana Ducassi (Director, Go Off with Jess & Julissa), Jessica Komitor (Director, People of New York), Susan Lee (SVP, Marketing and Brand Partnerships, Underscore Talent), Rebecca Rusheen (Digital Talent Agent, Gersh) and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh (Strategist, Two Six Eighty Corp)

Moderator: Tracy Gilchrist (VP, Editorial & Special Projects at EqualPride)

Breaking Into Television

Friday, June 27 — 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Ever wondered what it takes to start working in television? Hear from prominent directors, writers, showrunners, and industry experts about the current television landscape, what they anticipate for the future, and the best ways to forge a path into this coveted area of the industry.

Panelists: Daniel Willis (Director, Matlock, The Rookie), Marvin Lemus (Writer/Director, Gente-fied), and Meera Menon (Director, Ms Marvel, Westworld, Outlander), and Auri Maruri (TV Literary Agent, Gersh) Moderator: Michael Schneider (Executive Editor, TV at Variety)

Ask Me Anything: Festivals 

Friday, June 27 — 4:00pm – 5:00pm

A Forum favorite! Meet the programmers from festivals around the country who are keen to spotlight work from emerging and established filmmakers. Learn about how selection processes work, do’s and don’ts for submissions, and how to make the most of a film festival experience. Bring all your questions as the audience are the moderators!

Panelists: Ash Hoyle (Programmer, Sundance), Gabe Van Amburgh (Senior Manager Film & TV Programming, SXSW), Paul Sloop (Lead Programmer of Short Films, Cleveland International Film Festival), Lauren Thelen (Programming Director, Nashville Film Festival), Nichole Young (Short Film Programmer, AFI)

One-on-Ones Session 1: Industry Executive Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 10:00am – 11:15am

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an industry professional as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings are designed to allow you the opportunity to ask burning questions about areas of the industry you are interested in working in or learning more about, general career advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Participants: Ahbra Perry (Vice President, Chroma), Alan Luna (Producer/Casting Director, ABL Casting), Alberto Medina (Talent Manager & Producer, BASH Entertainment), Beau Farrell (Curator, Vimeo), Brandt Wrightsman (VP Production & Development US Film & TV, Anton Corp), Evan Schwartz (Head of Content, Wolfe Video), Francis Roman (Senior Film & TV Festival Programming Manager, SXSW), Ian Bignell (Festival Strategist, Festival Formula), Imani Davis (Film Programmer, American Cinematheque), Isis Masoud (Casting Director/ Filmmaker/Actress, The Nonfiction Hotlist), Jacqueline Mosher (Manager, Rain Management Group), Jim Buchholz (President, Riverside International Film Festival), Kate Sharp (Literary Manager/Producer, Bellevue Productions), Katie Bignell (Festival Strategist, Festival Formula), Maddie Neil (Agent, WME), Matt Klasco (Manager/Producer, Adventure Media), Matt Rosen (Manager, Navigation), Max Geschwind (Agent, CAA), Nick Romano (Creative Executive, 18hz), Ritesh Mehta (Story Consultant/ Programmer/Journalist/Critic, IndieWire), Rodrigo Moscoso (Manager/Producer, Zero Gravity Management), Sola Fasehun (Founder/Co-Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival), Stephanie Pfingsten (Founder/Publicist, Lumos PR) 

One-on-Ones Session: Filmmaker Mentors (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Don’t miss the chance to meet in person with an established filmmaker as part of our One on Ones. These general meetings give you the opportunity to ask burning questions about their careers, aspects of filmmaking you are interested in learning more about, general advice, or ways to best position yourself and your work as you move forward. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Participants: Allie Perison (Writer/Director/Producer), Andrew Carlberg (Producer, Skin), Aurora Brachman (Director, Still Processing), Branton Choi (Executive Producer, Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point), Brock Williams (Producer, Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All), Daniel Talbott (Screenwriter/Director/Producer, Midday Black Midnight Blue), Diego Najera (Producer, Artefacto Cinema/Borderlands), Drew Dickler (Filmmaker/Producer, Fireboys), Erin Brown Thomas (Writer/Director/Producer, Chasers), Jessica Sanders (Director, After Innocence), Julianna Ornelas (Independent Producer, Kismet Productions), Lucas Ford (Producer, Portal to Hell),  Kristen Buckels Cantrell (Director/Filmmaker), Lindsay Carpenter (Writer/Director, Little One), Marissa Goldman (Writer/Director), Mireia Vilanova (Producer, Cartuna), Monika Skerbelis (Director, Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at The American Pavilion), Rona Edwards (Producer), Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Producer/Filmmaker), Usman Ally (Writer/Director/Producer, All Our Stories Inc), Wale Adetula (Director, Helium Films UK), Winter Dunn (Director), Taylor Bakken (Head of Development, Wicious Pictures), Doménica Castro (Producer),  and Ahmed El Zoghby (Director). 

One-on-Ones Session: Collaborator Matchup (Filmmakers only)

Saturday, June 28 — 2:15pm – 3:30pm

Our newest interactive event! Are you a director seeking a producer for your new project? An actor looking for the writer that will have your next meaty role? Whatever hat(s) you might wear in the filmmaking process, let us step in and help you find your next great collaborator through these structured general meetings. Limited seating – advance sign-up required.

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Representatives & Episodic (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 12:30pm – 1:30pm

We are proud to introduce a new roundtable this year! In an intimate group setting, hear directly from prominent agents & managers about how they build relationships with filmmakers, and how your work can stand out from the crowd. OR sit down with established writers and directors working in television to learn about how they began their careers and what advice helped them succeed. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

Participants: Bayan Joonam (Executive Producer, Laugh Cry Wow), Charlotte Lichtman (Agent, CAA), Julien Levesque (Agent, The Gersh Agency), Kimberly Ann Harrison (Showrunner/Executive Producer, 20th Century Studios), Marc Mounier (Manager/Producer, Entertainment 360), Paola Franco (Manager Drama Development Original Series, Netflix), Roberto Larios (TV Literary Agent, Verve Talent & Literary Agency), Sarah Carbiener (Television Writer/Producer, Rick and Morty)

Roundtable Meet & Greet: Development & Artist Support (Filmmakers only)

Sunday, June 29 — 2:30pm  – 3:30pm

Our signature roundtable event returns! In an intimate group setting, hear directly from development executives and organizations involved in artist support and granting to learn about how they select the filmmakers they work with, what they look for, and what opportunities exist for your project. Bring your questions – we’ll rotate every 20 minutes, so you’ll be able to meet with 3 speakers total. This event is first-come, first-served with limited seating so we recommend arriving early.

Participants: Ahkeyah Andrada (Director of Development, Lord Miller), Greta Fuentes (Vice President Film, MACRO), Kaylee Madrid (Creative Executive, Ley Line Entertainment), Matthew Takata (Sundance), Sean Aversa (Creative Executive, Zero Gravity Management), Valerie Martinez (Senior Manager Artist Development, Film Independent), Missy Laney (Development Executive), Craig Parish (Senior Programmer, Slamdance)

One-on-ones are filmmaker-only with limited seating and require pre-registration by June 16.

For any Forum questions, please contact shortfestforum@psfilmfest.org.

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Julia Castro

UPDATE 06/13/2025 – Indio police report on Friday that a suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of a 27-year-old man on Thursday night at the Motel 6 in Indio.

Police say that their investigation revealed the suspect’s vehicle, a white Toyota Camry with paper plates, was seen fleeing the scene. They viewed video surveillance footage from the Motel 6 as well as from Flock Cameras to also get a description of the vehicle.

As IPD detectives began conducting their initial investigation at the scene, one of the detectives observed a white Toyota Camry passing by near the crime scene. The Toyota matched the description of the suspect vehicle.

Police initiated an investigative traffic stop on the Toyota. After a slow failure to yield, the vehicle finally stopped, and a high risk felony stop was conducted. Two adult males and two adult females were safely detained without incident.

Police recovered a bag thrown from within the vehicle on the street during the traffic stop. The bag contained a loaded Glock semi-automatic firearm, and the car was later confirmed to be the suspect vehicle from the shooting incident.

The 23-year-old male driver of the car was later identified as the shooter/homicide suspect.

Police say the investigation revealed there was a dispute between the victim and the suspect before the shooting. The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, charged with murder (187 PC) and being in possession of an unregistered firearm (29850 (c)(6) PC).

The other adult males and two adult females who were initially detained with the suspect during the traffic stop were later released from the station.

Police add that the confirmation of the victim’s identity is pending the coroner’s office investigation, and there is no additional danger to the community regarding this investigation.

The Indio Police Department encourages anyone with information on this incident to contact IPD Detective Shane DaCosta at (760) 541-4529.

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Indio Police are investigating a deadly shooting that left a 27-year-old man dead at a local motel.

Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. Thursday to the Motel 6 located on Indio Boulevard, near Sun Gold Street and Fred Waring Drive. Police say the victim was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident is being investigated as a homicide. As of Friday morning, no arrests have been made.

A hotel guest contacted News Channel 3 shortly before midnight, reporting a heavy police presence in the area. When our crew arrived, they found crime scene tape surrounding the motel parking lot and eastbound Indio Boulevard shut down between Fred Waring and Sun Gold.

The road remains closed as detectives continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Shane DaCosta with the Indio Police Department at (760) 541-4529.

This is a developing story. Stay with News Channel 3 on-air and online for updates.

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