Palm Springs International Film Festival Celebrates Day Five of Screenings

The Palm Springs International Film Festival enters its fifth day with a variety of film screenings and special events. This year’s festival is brimming with exciting appearances and is preparing for the announcement of juried awards later in the week.

On Monday morning, attendees enjoyed a screening of "Nickle Boys," an impactful film based on Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This story delves deep into the traumatic experiences of two boys trapped in a brutal reform school during the Jim Crow era in Florida. Additionally, the whimsical film "Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story," showcasing the life of the legendary Liza Minnelli, was also featured.

Special Events and Insights

The festival is hosting various events that allow filmmakers and creatives to share their insights. One highlight today is a conversation with "Queer" screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes at 6 p.m. He will discuss Luca Guadagnino's film adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novella, which stars Daniel Craig. Kuritzkes is notably credited as the sole writer on Guadagnino's other film, "Challengers," which recently won Best Score - Motion Picture at the Golden Globes.

Moreover, the festival took time on Saturday to honor a new generation of filmmakers during Variety's Creative Impact Awards ceremony. This event recognized individuals as part of the "10 Directors to Watch" series, featuring talents like Coralie Fargeat, Malcolm Washington, and Halina Reijn.

Additional Honorees

Other talented filmmakers included this year's class of 2025 are Durga Chew-Bose, David Fortune, Drew Hancock, Zoe Kravitz, Tom Nesher, James Sweeney, and Magnus von Horn. Past recipients of this honor include celebrated filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuarón, and Chloé Zhao. Recently, Cord Jefferson, who was part of the latest class, won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "American Fiction."

Variety also paid tribute to established artists during this event, including "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo and director Jacques Audiard, both of whom represent significant contributions in the musical genre. Erivo and Grande, her "Wicked" co-star, attended a special screening together, making it a memorable affair.

Festival Continuation

The festival continues to showcase films and host special appearances, including directors like Edward Berger for his film "Conclave," based on the papal election, along with other notable screenings. "Reading Lolita in Tehran" director Eran Riklis, author Azar Naifisi, and screenwriter Marjorie David were present for their movie's North American premiere, further enhancing the experience for attendees.

As the festival proceeds through next week, anticipation builds for the announcement of the juried awards on January 12. For those wishing to see the complete lineup of films and events, details are available online.

festival, screenings, awards