Palm Springs Film Festival 2009: Film Line-Up

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PRESS RELEASE

Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman, Emma ThompsonThe 20th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival has announced a roster of 210 films, culled from 73 countries for the 2009 Festival.  The selection of films for screening includes a total of 77 premieres (14 World, 48 U.S. and 16 North American).  Also, 50 of the 67 films submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards will be screened at this year’s Festival, held from January 8-19, 2009.  (Complete list of this year’s films)

"Over the course of its first 19 years, this Festival has always celebrated creative expression and embraced a diversity of visions and viewpoints," said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald.  "Happily, we are reaching our 20th anniversary milestone at a time when a new generation of filmmaking talent is making its debut on the world stage, with about one-third of this year’s film selections by first or second-time directors.  Just as this year’s line-up brings the promise of new voices to infuse the cinema with a renewal of its creative energy, the Festival itself is undergoing a reincarnation of sorts, with new staff, a fresh sense of purpose where the industry is concerned, and a clear eye to the future of the art form."

Director of Programming Helen du Toit, who was appointed to the position earlier this year, commented, "This year’s PSIFF lineup reflects a new direction for us.  It’s a leaner, more focused selection of international gems, with more space devoted to independent American productions, documentaries and new film and talent discoveries from around the globe."

 

GALA SCREENINGS

The Festival will open on Thursday, January 8 with the screening of Last Chance Harvey (USA) at the Palm Springs High School, followed by a reception at the Palm Springs Art Museum.  Directed by Joel Hopkins, the film tells the story of a struggling New York jingle writer and a lonely British bureaucrat who meet in London and transform one another’s lives.  Last Chance Harvey stars Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson who each received a Golden Globe nomination (for Best Actor and Best Actress in the Music or Comedy category) for their performances in the film.

In addition to the Opening Night Gala, the Festival will hold four international galas, a series of special screenings celebrating Festival programming showcases including:


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