As I delve into this vibrant and eclectic film festival lineup, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer diversity of stories, cultures, and perspectives that are about to unfold on our screens. Each film is like a window into another world, offering us a chance to empathize, learn, and grow.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival begins its run on January 2nd with “Better Man,” a movie directed by Michael Gracey, and concludes on January 12th with “The Penguin Lessons,” another film directed by Peter Cattaneo.
The event will showcase 35 films that were submitted for the International Feature Film Oscar category. Spanning over eleven days, the festival plans to exhibit a total of 158 movies hailing from 71 different nations, with 68 of these being first-time screenings.
Additionally, we’ll be highlighting Spanish movies, particularly those by Pedro Almodóvar, while bringing back key segments like New Talents New Perspectives, Modern Masterpieces, Queer Films, Latin American Cinema, Real-Life Tales, and Current Global Film Scenes.
The movie ‘Better Man’ is inspired by the real-life journey of the uprise, downfall, and comeback of British music sensation, Robbie Williams.
Multiple award recipients from the Palm Springs International Film Awards are due to take part in the Talking Pictures showings. These include Colman Domingo for “Sing Sing” as well as Jacques Audiard, Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez for “Emilia Pérez.
Lili Rodriguez, our Artistic Director, expressed that this year’s selection is truly exceptional, reflecting the unique style of PSIFF. As always, we’re offering a diverse range of films, transcending boundaries between genres and countries. The lineup has been meticulously curated by our team over the past year to honor the art of storytelling. We have a fantastic assortment of films – from heartwarming family-oriented movies to thought-provoking and timely pieces. Our goal is to foster a vibrant community of film enthusiasts, providing them with opportunities to immerse themselves in captivating narratives and form lasting connections here in Palm Springs.
This year’s festival showcases several captivating features, such as “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion” featuring fashion designer Bob Mackie, “Drive Back Home” with Alan Cumming, “Group Therapy” with London Hughes, “Lilly” starring Patricia Clarkson, “Millers in Marriage” with Edward Burns, “Reading Lolita in Tehran” with Zar Amir Ebrahimi, and “Flow,” directed by Gints Zilbalodis. Additionally, the Dinner and a Movie series offers unique dining experiences paired with special menus, including “Trifole,” “Shelf Life,” and “Rioja, Land of a Thousand Wines.
Starting December 2nd, I’ll be excitedly heading to psfilmfest.org for the start of general ticket sales! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the amazing international feature films up for awards:
Saturn Return (Spain) – Directed by Isaki Lacuesta, Pol Rodríguez
Emilia Pérez (France) conversing with director Jacques Audiard, alongside cast members Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez.
Upcoming Films:
NEW VOICES NEW VISIONS● Bob Trevino Likes It (United States), Director Tracie Laymon● Bonjour Tristesse (Canada/Germany), Director Durga Chew-Bose
● Color Book (United States), Director David Fortune
“Skip the Dogs Tonight” (South Africa), Directed by Embeth Davidtz (California Premiere)
Bad Shabbos (USA) – Directed by Daniel Robbins
TRUE STORIES● Adrianne & The Castle (Canada), Director Shannon Walsh● Agent of Happiness (Bhutan/Hungary), Director Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó● Apocalypse in the Tropics (Brazil), Director Petra Costa (California Premiere)● Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It (United States), Director Paris Barclay● Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story (Ireland/United Kingdom), Director Sinéad O’shea(California Premiere)● Bring Them Home (United States), Directors Ivan Macdonald, Ivy Macdonald, DanielGlick● Checkpoint Zoo (United States/Ukraine), Director Joshua Zeman● Counted Out (United States), Director Vicki Abeles
● Desert Angel (United States), Director Vincent Deluca (California Premiere)
The Diamond King (USA) – Marq Evans’ Debut (California Premiere)
“Jenny Carchman Directs ‘Whatever It Takes’ (UK/US)
Evening: Solitude in Spain, France, and Portugal (Director: Albert Serra)
FOCUS: PEDRO ALMODÓVAR – His Movies:
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share my perspective on the vibrant landscape of queer cinema today, specifically at this year’s GayLA festival. Here are some films that have caught my attention:
● Sally! (United States), Director Deborah Craig, Jörg Fockele, Ondine Rarey (Gay!la Spotlight)
FAMILY DAY● The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (United States), Director PeteBrowngardt● Flow (Latvia/France/Belgium), Director Gints Zibalodis
● The Mountain (New Zealand), Director Rachel House (U.S. Premiere)
Attending an exciting lineup of international films this festival season, here are some movies I’m thrilled to watch:
The Peaceful Ones (Denmark/USA) – Directed by Frederik Louis Hviid (First California Screening)
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2024-11-26 20:17