Celebrating its 22nd anniversary, the 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), slated from January 6-17 and will include over 400 screenings of more than 200 films from approximately 60 countries. The Festival presents a majority of the films submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards, as well as a large number of American independent and international features and documentaries marking their world, North American or U.S. debuts. Screenings are held on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs.
The Festival will open with its annual black tie Awards Show on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Palm Springs Convention Center at 5:30 p.m. The star-studded Gala honors individuals in the film industry with nine prestigious awards for acting, directing, achievement in film scoring and life achievement. Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, and presented by the Palm Springs International Film Society, 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 black tie Awards Show Gala is covered by every national entertainment TV show and network, and last year more than 1,400 daily newspapers. The Festival also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and an annual black-tie gala award presentation. The Palm Springs International Film Society also presents the annual Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films in June. That Festival is often referred to as the Sundance of Short Films and attracts almost 3,000 entries. For additional information, call the Festival headquarters at (760) 322-2930 or (800) 898-7256 or visit the festival's website.