Palmdale
A teenage girl chooses to take matters into her own hands as an eviction looms over her family's trailer. Set in the overlooked beauty of Palmdale, California, the film explores the unmatched bond of a brother & sister looking to maintain innocence in a harsh world.
This film marks Lauren’s bold and visionary directorial debut, brought to life by a dynamic, all-female producing team.
Palmdale is a poignant journey through lost innocence and the poetic beauty of the everyday, framed against the breathtakingly cinematic backdrop of Palmdale, California.
Drawing inspiration from childhood drives to her grandparents’ house, Lauren reveals the quiet beauty of a place often overlooked, capturing its pink desert skies and golden sunsets that left an indelible mark on her soul.
Through her lens, Palmdale becomes a love letter to the quiet, untold stories of a place too often overshadowed by its challenges and rarely celebrated for its beauty and potential.
Awards and Nominations
Best Emerging Filmmaker at the SIMI Film Festival - Lauren Moreno (WINNER)
Best Actress at The SIMI Film Festival - Isabelle Marchand (WINNER)
Best Score at The SIMI Film Festival - Brandon Butler (NOMINEE)
Best Writing at The SIMI Film Festival (NOMINEE)
Best Drama at The SIMI Film Festival (NOMINEE)
Best Supporting Actress at The SIMI Film Festival - Sage Kirkpatrick (NOMINEE)
Best Drama Short at NoHo Cinefest (WINNER)
Best L.A. Filmmaker at the LA Independent Women Film Awards - Lauren Moreno (WINNER)
Audience Award “Women in Short Films” at The Valley Film Festival (WINNER)
Grand Jury Award “Best Featurette - Drama” at The Sherman Oaks Film Festival (WINNER)
Grand Jury Award “Best Lead Actress” at The Sherman Oaks Film Festival Isabelle Marchand (WINNER)
Official Festival Selections
Portland Film Festival - 2024
NoHo CineFest - 2024
The Valley Film Festival - 2024
SIMI Film Festival - 2024
Sherman Oaks Film Festival - 2024
IFS Los Angeles Showcase - 2024
LA Independent Women Film Awards - 2024
SmallRig Awards - 2025
Toronto International Women Film Festival - 2025
Semifinalist
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival - 2024
Richmond International Film Festival - 2024
Blow-Up Arthouse FilmFest Chicago - 2024
CURRENT STATUS: FESTIVAL CIRCUT