Desert Noir takes place one day ahead of the festival, on Thursday, October 22, and is designed for screenwriters, producers, directors, and development executives interested in desert-set or desert-inspired noir fiction and nonfiction with strong potential for film and premium documentary adaptation.

• The morning session presents a carefully selected slate of 20 to 25 published properties, chosen for their cinematic strength, clear routes to adaptation, international market appeal, and practical, cost-efficient production potential in the Mojave Desert, supported by California’s rural tax incentives.

• The afternoon is dedicated to structured one-on-one meetings, allowing writers and executives to explore creative alignment, attachment strategies, and concrete next steps. 

• The day concludes with Hollywood Meets the Desert, a cocktail gathering that brings together participating executives, authors, local production talent, and regional film-office representatives from San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

Desert Noir will be held at the legendary 29 Palms Inn. Its historic oasis, intimate scale, and singular atmosphere offer a rare setting for serious conversations perfectly suited to discovering stories rooted in place. 

Special accommodation rates will be available for those wishing to extend their stay.

You may register your interest via Eventbrite