The Palm Springs International Film Festival brings Hollywood to Palm Springs
Now entering its 26th year, the Palm Springs International Film Festival has a well-established reputation as one of the most prestigious and well-attended film festivals in the country. The Festival has long secured its place on the world stage as the portal for the very best in world cinema, welcoming more than 136,000 enthusiastic filmgoers to Palm Springs every January.
The depth and breadth of the program – all set against the dramatic backdrop of Palm Springs – features more than 180 films from over 70 countries and includes the largest selection Foreign Language Oscar® submissions of any Festival in the nation. In addition to having earned a reputation as a destination festival, the film screenings, special presentations, tributes, and nightly parties that constitute the Festival have a decidedly international flair and make PSIFF a cosmopolitan experience in world cinema.
PSIFF has also evolved into one of the most highly anticipated preludes to the Oscars®. The Festival’s glamorous centerpiece, the Awards Gala, honors the year’s brightest talents in front of and behind the camera before a glittering crowd of 2,000 attendees. PSIFF14 honorees included U2, Bruce Dern, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Steve McQueen, Thomas Newman, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts. The national and international print and electronic media converge on Palm Springs and generate over 1 billion media impressions worldwide.
The following is a list of LGBTQ films recommended by The Standard Magazine
Xenia (Greece), Directed by Panos H. Koutras
This quirky queer road movie follows two brothers en route to a singing contest in Thessaloniki and, maybe, a meeting with the father who abandoned them long ago. The spirit of early Almodovar animates the mixture of hot button topics and exhibitionist fervor.
Limited Partnership (USA/Australia), Directed by Thomas G. Miller
In 1975, Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan became one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married in the United States. This tears-inducing story takes us through the decades with this pioneering couple: two unsung heroes who paved the way for the eventual defeat of DOMA.
Helicopter Mom (USA), Directed by Salomé Brezimer
Convinced that her closeted son needs a push out of the heteronormative nest, an overbearing mom outs him in front of his school. The only problem? He’s not sure he’s gay. Nia Vardalos shines in this hilarious story of gale force good intentions.
The Way He Looks (Brazil), Directed by Daniel Ribeiro
Leonardo is a blind, gay teenager; his best friend Giovana stands up for him against the school bullies. But then Gabriel, a new student, takes an interest in him. Giovana must try to adjust her expectations as tender feelings develop between the two boys. Best Film, FIPRESCI Panorama, and Teddy Award, Berlin Film Festival; Audience Award, Best Film, OutFest.
Match (USA), Directed by Stephen Belber
When an inquisitive couple impose themselves on an eccentric Juilliard dance instructor (Patrick Stewart), a strained interview soon devolves into a hostile interrogation. Devilish and droll in a gripping performance, Stewart glides gracefully through the hairpin plot twists of this sly and suspenseful three-hander.
Futuro Beach (Brazil/Germany), Directed by Karim Ainouz
Two breakneck motorcycle rides bookend a tactile gay romance, told over three chapters and in the contrasting locations of sexy Brazil and frigid Berlin. Karim Ainouz’s latest feature is an astonishingly colorful and intimate look into the complexities of human relationships.
An Honest Liar (USA), Directed by Justin Weinstein, Tyler Measom
Liar. Cheat. Charlatan. Truth teller. Confused? Meet James “The Amazing” Randi. He’s spent half a century entertaining millions with his remarkable feats of magic, escape and trickery, but also debunking those who use the same techniques to cheat others. Be prepared to be amazed.
What’s Between Us (Switzerland), Directed by Claudia Lorenz
After 18 years of marriage and three children, Frank and Annie face a major turning point in their marriage when Frank admits he finds himself attracted to men. When Frank’s newfound attraction becomes focused on one man in particular – Pablo – Annie is forced to grapple not only with her own feelings, but also with those of their children.
Back on Board: Greg Louganis (USA/United Kingdom), Directed by Cheryl Furjanic
Incorporating vintage footage of diving champion Greg Louganis’ rise to greatness and intimate views of the turmoil in his personal life along with candid interviews with Louganis and those who know him best, this an engrossing portrait of the four-time Olympian.
The 10-Year Plan (USA), Directed by JC Calciano
Meet Myles and Brody: best friends, and total opposites. Myles dreams of finding “The One”; Brody revels in being single. But a playful vow made long ago will make them question what they really want and what they mean to each other.
Hawaii (Argentina), Directed by Marco Berger
Award-winning filmmaker Marco Berger (Plan B, Absent) invests this tale of romantic longing between two men from opposite sides of the tracks with an exquisite sense of slow-burning passion, as a young, drifting laborer finds himself at the door of a childhood acquaintance who offers him odd jobs and a place to stay over the course of one long, hot summer.
The Duke of Burgundy (United Kingdom), Directed by Peter Strickland
From the director of Berberian Sound Studio, a sly, wry, but surprisingly tender account of a perverse lesbian SM relationship, played in the style of decadent Euro-porn of the 1970s but with more than a few post-modern kinks of its own. It’s the thinking woman’s 50 Shades of Grey.
Margarita, with a Straw (India), Directed by Shonali Bose
Years ago, Shonali Bose was inspired to make a movie when her cousin, who has cerebral palsy, told her that what she wanted for her birthday was… sex. Charming and earthy, this film is an exhilarating story of self-discovery and a touching love story.
Sand Dollars (Dominican Republic/Mexico, Argentina), Directed by Laura Amelia Guzmán, Israel Cárdenas
In the Dominican Republic, an older American woman (Geraldine Chaplin, in an unforgettable performance) falls deeply in love with a young local woman who seems to be using her for her money, but more complicated motivations are gradually revealed.
Mother of the Lamb (Chile), Directed by Rosario Espinosa, Enrique Farías
Cristina is about to turn 50 and has dedicated her entire life to taking care of her manipulative mother. But when a childhood friend comes into town Cristina starts to go out, and the aftermath of a violent incident pushes her to a breaking point. “Powerful.” Hollywood Reporter
Packed In A Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson (USA), Directed by Michelle Boyaner
Edith Lake Wilkinson’s exuberant paintings and possessions were packed into trunks when Edith was committed to an asylum in 1925, never to be heard from again. Nearly nine decades later, Edith’s great-niece, writer-director Jane Anderson, seeks to solve the mystery of Edith’s life and restore her artistic legacy.
For a complete schedule please visit www.psfimfest.org
