Area Film Festivals
Palm Springs has a long connection with Hollywood, so it seems fitting that the city should host several Premier film festivals, honoring significant films. Below is a list of the major film festivals that occur in the Palm Springs Area. If you represent a film festival that you would like to be included in this list, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 760-325-1577 ext. 118 or send an email to pschamber@pschamber.org
Palm Springs International Film Festival
January 3-14, 2008
Contact: 800-898-7256 or 760-322-2930
Web: www.psfilmfest.org
Email: info@psfilmfest.org
This marks the 19th year for the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) which continues to grow each year. This year it features a stellar line-up of more than 230 films from 65 countries, seminars, special events and Gala receptions. The Festival's annual Awards Gala will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Other key dates for the 2008 Festival include Opening Night on Thursday, January 3, 2008; Closing Night on Sunday, January 13, 2008; and Best of the Festival on Monday, January 14, 2008. Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, the PSIFF is one of the largest film festivals in North America. The Festival has an attractive film sales and distribution record and is seen by American distributors as one of the best Academy Award campaign marketing tools. The Festival also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and an annual black-tie gala award presentation.
ShortFest: 2007 Palm Springs Festival of Short Films
August 23 - 29, 2007
Contact: 800-898-7256 or 760-322-2930
Web: www.psfilmfest.org
Email: info@psfilmfest.org
The Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films is one of the largest short film festivals in America, showcasing over 350 short films each year from more than 40 countries, and a library of more than 2,200 in its Film Market. 20,000 attendees are expected to attend from around the world. Romance, Action, Sci-fi, Thrillers, Animation, Documentary films and more take center stage on the big screen for seven fabulous days of screenings, parties, and seminars. Join the filmmakers for post-screening discussions! Enjoy the best short films available from the four corners of the world! And rub shoulders with the major filmmakers of tomorrow at festive post-screening soirees! ShortFest is now the largest festival of Short Films in the United States and is second internationally in size and scope only to Claremont-Ferand in France in terms of prestige and credibility amongst filmmakers.
This year the Palm Springs ShortFest has received a record number of entries -- more than 2,400 short films from the U.S. and around the world. The Festival's programming team has put together an amazing selection of more than 350 short films, programmed in 90-minute packages featuring a splendid array of thematically-linked shorts, including a dazzling selection of comedies, thrillers, films noir, dramas, romances and documentaries. This year's Festival line-up includes a tantalizing selection of special programs, theme parties and seminars. 52 of the short films premiered at the Festival have gone on to win Academy AwardŽ nominations in the animated and live action short film categories.
Festival of Native Film and Culture
March 5-9, 2008
Contact: 760-778-1079
Web: www.accmuseum.org
Location: Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Fee: Ticket prices to be announced.
Now in its seventh season, the Festival of Native Film and Culture is one of the nation's most highly regarded festivals of its kind - featuring the best in films by, about, and starring Native Americans and other Native people. The Festival includes feature films, documentaries, and short films from some of today's premier Native American and indigenous film makers. This event is presented by the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, a not- for-profit organization.
Desert Jewish Film Festival
November 1-8 2007
Contact: 760-779-0430
Web: www.desertjewishfilmfestival.com
The Desert Jewish Film Festival, held at the Cinemas Palme d'Or in Palm Desert, attracts 3,500 attendees over the course of 3 days. The films shown at this festival range from broad common themes in Jewish life and use this as a jumping off point for new territories. Last year films included light dramas, films about issues of Jewish culture, Mideast relations, and anti-Semitism. There also were two Holocaust films, but this festival took the Holocaust film in new directions.
Palm Springs Film Noir Festival
May 29 - June 1, 2008
Contact: Arthur Lyons, 760-864-9760
Web: www.palmspringsfilmnoir.com
Venue: Camelot Theatres (760) 325-6565, www.camelottheatres.com
This festival features a lineup of some obscure rarities that have not been shown on the big screen since the 1940s and 50s. Stars from the original films often attend the screenings and participate in audience Q&A sessions. The four-day festival will features approximately 15 noir classics, lectures by experts, authors, and film restorers, Q&A with the stars following their films and "Meet the Stars" parties and book signings. Tickets prices: $11.75/daytime films, $13.75/night showings and $110 for an All-Access pass for all screenings and events.
Palm Springs Classic Film Festival and StarFair
December 7 -9, 2007
Contact: 760-416-5811
Web: www.palmspringswalkofstars.com
The Palm Springs Walk of Stars will be presenting the Palm Springs Classic Film Festival where 26 classic films will be shown over the December weekend. Some of the confirmed stars who will be in attendance and the films being screened are Tony Curtis in "Some Like it Hot", Rhonda Fleming in "Connecticut Yankee", Tab Hunter and Susan Hart in "Ride the Wild Surf", Tab Hunter in "Polyester", Tippi Hedron in "The Birds", Carroll Baker in "The Carpetbaggers" and "Babydoll", Ernest Borgnine in "Marty", Valerie Perrine in "Lenny", Mamie Van Doren and Russ Tamblyn in "High School Confidential" , Stefanie Powers in "Palm Springs Weekend", Trini Lopez in "The Dirty Dozen", Del Shores and Leslie Jordan in "Sordid Lives", Stella Stevens in "Girls, Girls, Girls", Adam West in "Batman", Lindsay Wagner in "Paper Chase", Carol Channing in "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Cheeta in "Tarzan and His Mate", and television's Linda Gray, star of "Dallas". Stars are subject to availability.
The event also features "Starfair," which will allow fans to meet and greet stars of film, stage and television. United States astronaut Buzz Aldrin will also be in attendance. Fans will have the opportunity to obtain autographs, purchase books, CD's, DVD's, videos, shop for memorabilia and take pictures with the stars during the three day event, as well as enjoy performances by many stars. The Palm Springs Walk of Stars anticipates over 150 stars in attendance over the three day event.
Fans will be able to meet and greet many of their favorite celebrities. Following each screening, the star in attendance will take part in a question and answer session. The films will be screened on Friday, December 7th from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday, December 8th and 9th from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. During the event, Tab Hunter and Rhonda Fleming will be honored with their own stars. Tickets: $30.00 per day and $50.00 for all three days.
Film Related Contacts:
Inland Empire Film Commission: 951-779-6700 ext. 231; Sheri Davis, sheridavis@filminlandempire.com
Filming Permits for Palm Springs: 760-323-8265, Lois Ware, Parks and Recreation Administrator and Coordinator
Women in Film and Television: 760-251-9980; various events in the year