It’s not too late to drive two-and-a-half hours to Palm Springs for the experience of attending their famous film festival. The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, from Jan. 2-12, presents 192 films in various venues, including world premieres, U.S. premieres and various indie and foreign movies. Many of the films are receiving awards buzz. (For a complete list of films see www.psfilmfest.org.)
For film buffs, this fest is a must-see. Many of the attendees travel from all over the United States for the big festival. The opening event was a special showing of “Selma,” with director Ava DuVernay and actors David Oyelowo and Common in attendance. The film, which opens this upcoming weekend in San Diego, is a historical drama based on the voting rights marches in 1965.
The annual gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, honored recipients Rosamund Pike (Breakthrough Actress winner for “Gone Girl”), David Oyelowo (Breakthrough Actor for “Selma”), J.K. Simmons (Spotlight winner for “Whiplash”), Robert Duvall (Icon Award for “The Judge”), “Boyhood” director Richard Linklater (Sonny Bono Visionary Award), Julianne Moore (Actress, “Still Alice”), Eddie Redmayne (Actor, “The Theory of Everything”),Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Director, “Birdman”), “The Imitation Game” (Ensemble Cast) and Reese Witherspoon (Chairman’s Award, “Wild”). Brad Pitt’s song to help the gala’s audience remember David Oyelowo’s name has gone viral.
There are too many films to see all of them, but one film of note was “Two Days, One Night” starring Marion Cotillard. The actress has already won acclaim for her possibly best role yet in a naturalistic film of a young woman’s attempt to keep her job. “Walter,” which will open in selected theaters in March, is a sweet, quirky film about a young man who believes he has the power to determine who will go to heaven or hell. The cast includes Andrew J. West, Virginia Madsen, and William H. Macy, with direction by Anna Mastro.
Many of the foreign films in the festival have Oscar buzz, including “Ida” (Poland), “Leviathan” (Russia), “Force Majeure” (Sweden), “Wild Tales” (Argentina), “Timbuktu” (Mauritania) and “Tangerines” (Estonia).
The closing night film on Jan. 11 is “Boychoir,” a coming of age movie that includes Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, and Debra Winger in its cast. Carvelle (Dustin Hoffman) is the choirmaster of a group of pre-teen boys with angelic voices.
