TICKETING & FESTIVAL INFORMATION
TICKET PURCHASES
November 26-December 1 –
Member Days Early Bird Access*
Opens 11/26 at 9 am PT online
December 2 – General Ticket Sales Begin Opens at 9 am PT online Purchase online at psfilmfest.org
Or call 760-778-8979 (Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm)
In-person purchases and voucher exchanges may be completed at box office locations during operating hours.
*Available exclusively to Palm Springs Film Society Members
BOX OFFICE HOURS
December 2 - January 1
10 am - 5 pm, (closed December 24 & 25)
Festival Theaters ( formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
DURING THE FESTIVAL
January 2 - 13 one hour before the first show is scheduled to start, and close 30 minutes after the last show starts. Theater box offices are not open on days without screenings at that theater.
ANN Annenberg Theater 101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta
46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
CASHLESS BOX OFFICE
We welcome Visa®, Mastercard®, Discover ® , American Express® and debit cards.
FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE
Merchandise is available online at destinationpsp.com
Destination PSP Store, Downtown Palm Springs 170 North Palm Canyon Dr.
Festival Theaters
789 E Tahquitz Canyon Way (Jan 3-13)
Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School
2248 E Ramon Rd., Palm Springs (Jan 2-12)
TICKETING & EVENT PRICING
GENERAL ADMISSION..............$20 (Members $18)
FAMILY FILMS General $10-$20, Child (12 & under) $5
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING AND RECEPTION .................................................... $135
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING ONLY (@ CAM)
........................................................................................ $20
CLOSING NIGHT SCREENING ONLY (@ PSHS)
........................................................................................ $20
TALKING PICTURES/BOOK TO SCREEN
PROGRAMS .................................................... $30 – $45
DINNERS ................................................................... $100
PASS OPTIONS
BENEFACTOR PASS ............................................ $3,884
CONCIERGE PASS $3,112
PREMIERE PASS .................................................. $2,597
PLATINUM PASS ..................................................... $607
5-DAY “A” PASS ........................................................ $397
5-DAY “B” PASS........................................................ $397
STUDENT PASS (Student ID required) $213
PICKING UP PASSES
VALID PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED
BENEFACTOR PASSES
can be picked up:
December 29 - January 2, 9 am - 9 pm at the Palm Springs Convention Center 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Grove Room
After January 2 at the Ticket & Information Center located in the Festival Plaza, 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Check website for dates and times
CONCIERGE, PLATINUM, PREMIERE, 5-DAY A, 5-DAY B, & STUDENT PASSES can be picked up at the Ticket & Information Center located in the Festival Plaza, 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
December 18 - January 12 (closed December 24 & 25)
Check website for dates and times
GUEST, INDUSTRY, & MEDIA PASSES can be picked up at the Guest & Industry Suite located inside the Hilton Palm Springs 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Tapestry Room January 1, 1 pm - 5 pm
January 2 - 12, 9 am - 5 pm January 13, 9 am - 12 pm
PICKING UP TICKETS
Tickets may be picked up at a box office location during operating hours. Only the person who purchased the tickets may pick them up with a valid photo ID.
PRINT-AT-HOME & MOBILE TICKETS
Your print-at-home ticket(s) will be attached to your order confirmation email in PDF form. Simply open the PDF, print and present your tickets at the theater upon entry. You may also present the PDF on your mobile device.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: By attending the festival, you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions, which can be found at psfilmfest.org/about/terms-and-conditions.
SCHEDULE CHANGES: Sometimes, for reasons beyond our control, programs must be changed, rescheduled or cancelled. A daily update on schedule changes may be obtained at psfilmfest.org. Changes will also be posted at each venue. Please check for updates periodically.
FESTIVAL POLICIES AND ETIQUETTE THEATER KEY
20 minutes before the screening. After 20 minutes entry is not guaranteed. Queue-cards are given to determine the passholder seating as quickly as possible.
(1) One Queue-card per passholder. Passholder must be present. The Queue-card must be presented with valid pass for admittance.
ETIQUETTE
REFUND POLICY: No refunds or exchanges. If customer has an emergency they may request a credit. Credits are at the discretion of management. If PSIFS has to cancel a screening or event, customer will receive a refund or exchange.
REFUSAL OF SERVICE: PSIFF reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. We enforce this policy to ensure a secure, professional and convenient environment for all of our patrons.
SCANNING: All tickets and passes will be scanned upon entering each screening. They are individually barcoded, allowing only one scan per use. Attempts to duplicate, alter or sell any copies of print-athome tickets or passes will result in admittance being refused to the event. Tickets and/or vouchers purchased through a third party will not be accepted.
RE-ENTRY PASSES: Anyone (including pass holders) exiting an auditorium with plans to return to that particular screening MUST obtain a Re-Entry Pass in order to be readmitted to a screening. A festival pass or ticket stub and re-entry pass is required for re-entry.
STANDBY TICKETS: When a film screening or event is on Standby, it means that the ticket allotment has been reached. Any empty seats are released for sale 10 minutes prior to a screening. Patrons can join the standby line for a chance to purchase these seats. Standby tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and may or may not be sold for some programs. Passes, credit and vouchers are accepted.
QUEUE CARDS: Passholders can request a Queue-card while waiting for entry into the specified theater 45 minutes prior to a film screening until the passholder allocation is reached. Keep this Queue-card while waiting to enter the theater scheduled for the next screening. You do not need to wait in line.
The Queue-card guarantees you entry up to
• Saving space in line, or seats for other patrons is not permitted.
• Late seating is not permitted. PSIFF will not sell tickets or allow seating once the program has begun. Any exception to the late-seating policy is at the discretion of the Festival Venue Manager.
• If you need to leave the auditorium for any reason,take your pass or ticket stub and pick up a Re-Entry Pass before you leave.
• No one will be re-admitted without their pass or ticket stub and the Re-Entry Pass.
• No recording equipment is permitted in the theater auditorium.
• No large bags are permitted inside venues; all bags are subject to search.
• Please turn off all mobile devices during the film presentation. No talking or texting permitted during the film presentation.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited at all Festival locations, including e-cigarettes and vaping products.
• Please complete and return your Audience Award ballot immediately following each screening.
• To expedite theater cleaning and seating, please discard your waste in the appropriate containers and exit promptly after your screening.
• All theater auditoriums are cleared between show times. Any items left in the auditoriums will be removed and placed in Lost and Found.
• Many lines are outside of the theaters. Please dress appropriately for comfort, as it can get warm during the day and cold in the evenings. Theaters may also get chilly.
ANN Annenberg Theater 101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta 46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place 36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
CONTENTS
TITLE SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
FILM AWARDS PRESENTING
GOLD SPONSORS
PREMIERE SPONSORS
SUPPORTING FOUNDATIONS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSORS
PLATINUM HOTEL SPONSORS
PREMIER HOTEL SPONSORS
HOSPITALITY SPONSORS
LETTER FROM THE FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and our incredible staff, I am thrilled to welcome you to this year’s 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. It is with great excitement and anticipation that we come together to celebrate the incredible artistry and passion that the world of cinema has to offer.
Each year, we are reminded of the power of film to inspire, challenge, and connect us across cultures, boundaries, and experiences. We aim to do that this year by presenting a collection of more than 160 films, representing 70+ countries, which have been curated by artistic director Lili Rodriguez and her talented staff of programmers especially for our festival audiences.
Our festival is not just a celebration of the moving image, but of the stories that push us to see the world through new lenses, to ask difficult questions, and to dream of new possibilities. Over the next few days, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich and diverse array of cinematic experiences, ranging from intimate indie narratives to bold international works. We take great pride in the fact that our festival is widely regarded throughout the industry as the festival that screens the most submissions to the Best International Feature Film category of the Academy Awards®. This year, once again, we’re bringing you a large selection of those films in our Awards Buzz program.
We invite you to don your finest attire and celebrate with us as we honor some of the biggest A-list movie stars and filmmakers in the world at the annual Film Awards Gala, which will be held on Friday, January 3 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This is the only event in the valley where you can celebrate among Hollywood’s best and brightest – stars like Ralph Fiennes, Angelina Jolie, Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman, Timothée Chalamet, and more Oscar® hopefuls – while enjoying a fabulous dinner in our elegantly decorated ballroom. And it’s all for a good cause, raising more than $2.5 million for the nonprofit Palm Springs International Film Society’s year-round mission.
Whether you are attending as a filmmaker, a member of the press, or a passionate filmgoer, you are part of a community that cherishes and supports the art of storytelling. This festival exists because of the collective efforts of countless individuals – from the filmmakers and their teams to the volunteers, sponsors, and audiences – all of whom contribute to making this event a unique and meaningful celebration of creativity.
I want to thank our title sponsor, City of Palm Springs; Film Awards Presenting Sponsor, Silvercrest; and our host Mary Hart and Entertainment Tonight for helping to make this one of the most exciting events in the world of film.
We hope you take full advantage of everything the festival has ahead for you, and, above all, enjoy the magic of film!
Nachhattar Singh Chandi, Chairman of the Board
The Film Awards underwriters are Harold Matzner, David McGrath, Sean McGrath, Jordan Schnitzer, Jan Salta, and myself. Combined, our entire Board of Directors donates more than $1 million annually to this benefit for the Palm Springs International Film Society. It is an honor to support the vision and passion of our founder, Sonny Bono, our past chairman, Harold Matzner, and James R. and Jackie Lee Houston, who chaired this event for so many years.
2022-2023
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Nachhattar Singh Chandi
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Harold Matzner
VICE CHAIRS
David Baron
Aftab Dada
Helene Galen
Scott White
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein
Stephen Breimer
Jim Bruner
Sidney Craig
Robert Dickey
Michele Finney
Jaci Fitzsimonds
Eric Garner
Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns
Wendy Hope-Heckmann
Carol Kaplan
Terri Ketover
Garry Kief
Mary Ann LaBahn
Jenny Lavey
Leslie McGrath
Kevin McGuire
Donna MacMillan
Peter Mahler
Katherine Malkin
Tristan Milanovich
Lee Morcus
Patrick Mundt
Marie E. Pinizzotto M.D., MBA
John Pinkney
Catharine Reed
Nathan Ross
Jan Salta
Aubrey Serfling
Linda Shirvanian
Dominique Shwe
Ellen Sneider
Ryann Whalen
HONORARY CHAIRS
Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein
Reid D. Milanovich, Chairman, ACBCI
Richard M. Milanovich, in Memoriam
NACHHATTAR SINGH CHANDI
MEMBER COFFEE CHATS
Connect with the film programmers and your fellow Film Society pals at our members-only Coffee Chat sessions.
Get the lowdown on the film program, swap ideas, and soak up the good vibes.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 - 9AM - 10AM
MARY PICKFORD IS D’PLACE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 - 9AM - 10AM
PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER (CAMELOT THEATRES)
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY TO PARTICIPATE! psfilmfest.org
LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dear Film Friend,
As we welcome you to the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival, we find ourselves reflecting on why the movies mean so much to us. In a time when the world can feel divided, cinema remains a uniquely powerful force — a way to connect us, inspire empathy, and remind us of our shared humanity. This year’s festival is a celebration of storytelling from around the globe, and we invite you to join us in experiencing the transformative magic of the movies.
Our 2025 festival promises to be a rich, vibrant experience with over 160 films from 70+ countries, highlighting the extraordinary diversity of stories being told today. From gripping dramas and captivating documentaries to lighthearted family films, we’ve curated a lineup that truly has something for everyone. At the heart of it all is a simple goal: to create a space where audiences can gather, share in the joy of storytelling, and leave feeling inspired.
This year, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of a new venue in La Quinta, the Cinemark Century La Quinta, a meaningful step in our mission to make the festival more accessible across the Coachella Valley. By expanding east, we hope to reach more communities and make it easier than ever for film lovers to join us. Of course, you can also enjoy films at any of our other six venues across Cathedral City and Palm Springs, including Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs).
While the festival is international by design, this year we’re placing a special focus on Spain, a country whose cinematic history is as rich and diverse as its culture. Through a curated selection of films, we’ll explore the creativity, passion, and artistry that have made Spain a force in global cinema. As part of this spotlight, we’re proud to present a mini-retrospective of legendary filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, featuring three of his most iconic films — one each from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Education has always been an essential part of our mission, and we’re proud to announce that our Student Screening Day is expanding to reach 3,000 students across the Coachella Valley. By bringing the festival experience to young audiences, we hope to inspire the next generation of storytellers, creators, and thinkers.
In addition to Student Screening Day, we’re delighted to bring back Family Day, designed to welcome audiences of all ages. Bring the family out on Sunday, January 12 for fun activities like face-painting, food, and, of course, a lineup of family-friendly films at Mary Pickford is D’Place. More details will follow. Whether you’re attending for the first time or have been with us for decades, this year’s festival is designed to welcome everyone. With individual tickets, passes, and easy online purchasing, you can plan your experience in a way that works for you — whether that’s catching one must-see film or immersing yourself in 12 days of cinema!
See you at the movies!
Lili Rodriguez Artistic Director
LILI RODRIGUEZ
MONDAY, JANUARY 6
Movie inspiration: RIOJA, THE LAND OF A THOUSAND WINES
Event location: TRIO Palm Springs
Event address: 707 North Palm Canyon Drive
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
$100
This dinner at Trio restaurant celebrates Rioja's rich wine heritage, blending tradition with innovation. Each course is designed to evoke the region's flavors. Executive Chef Gladis Lizarraga will highlight the interplay between time-honored practices and modern creativity, much like the Spanish wine industry.
Screening times:
Friday, January 3 • 3:30 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 1:30 pm • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 5:15 pm • FT
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7
Movie inspiration: TRIFOLE
Event location: LuLu California Bistro
Event address: 200 South Palm Canyon Drive Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
$100
Take a tour through Italy! Indulge in a delicious Italian menu influenced by the cinematic brilliance of Trifole. With hints of truffle throughout, the meal becomes not just a dinner, but a celebration of both fine cuisine and the art of film. There’s always a party at Lulu!
Screening times:
Thursday, January 9 • 7:45 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 4:45 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 1:45 pm • PALM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8
Movie inspiration: SHELF LIFE
Event location: Eight4Nine Restaurant
Event address: 849 North Palm Canyon Drive Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
$100
Indulge in a culinary journey where cheese takes center stage in every course. The EIGHT4NINE culinary team has created a menu that celebrates the versatility and artistry of cheese in every dish.
Screening times:
Saturday, January 4 • 10:45 am • PALM
Monday, January 6 • 8:15 am • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:45 pm • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 1:45 pm •FT
FREE COMMUNITY SCREENING
EVERY LITTLE THING
Sally Aitken, Australia, 2024, 93 min., Documentary Saturday, January 11 • 4:30 pm • ANN
Up in the Hollywood Hills, the remarkable and empathetic Terry Masear tends to wounded hummingbirds, nursing them back to health. This joyful, gorgeously shot portrait teaches us as much about these fragile, amazing creatures as it does about the tenacity of the human heart.
Presented by
FILM AWARDS
Celebrate the Brightest Stars of the Year at the 36TH Annual Film Awards
Photo by Raul Romo
Emilia Pérez
Vanguard Award
Director Jacques Audiard.
Cast includes: Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez. Netflix
Mikey Madison Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress Anora Neon
Colman Domingo Spotlight Award, Actor Sing Sing A24
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3
PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER
Awards season kicks off with a bang at another star-studded Palm Springs International Film Awards, Friday, January 3, 2025 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Join us as Hollywood’s A-list descends on the desert to honor the year’s most buzzed-about films and unforgettable performances. With the support of presenting sponsor Silvercrest, title sponsor the City of Palm Springs, host Mary Hart and Entertainment Tonight, and our audience of avid film lovers, the event marks the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Palm Springs International Film Society.
This year’s honorees include veteran performers in revelatory new roles, as well as ascendant stars in electrifying breakthroughs.
Best known for her remarkably lived-in role in FX’s critically acclaimed series Better Things, Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress winner Mikey Madison bursts onto the big screen as the radiant heart of Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner Anora. Turning in scene-stealing performances since the age of 8, Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor honoree Kieran Culkin emerges from his Emmywinning work in HBO’s Succession with a performance that cements him as a film actor of the highest caliber in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain.
This year’s Desert Palm Achievement Award winners are both veteran Academy Award winners earning fresh Oscar buzz for delivering spellbinding dramatic performances that remind you why they’ve been on Hollywood’s A-list for decades. One of the biggest stars in the world, Angelina Jolie transforms herself and takes her talents to a whole new level with her embodiment of Greek opera diva Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s Maria. Academy Award winner Adrien Brody
brings new emotional depth and fascinating dimension to the classic tale of a post-WWII immigrant in search of the American dream in Brady Corbet’s epic The Brutalist.
Lock a troupe of consummate actors with hundreds of beloved credits between them in a gilded room and ratchet up the tension as they must pick the next pope – the result is a marvel of immersive performances, a riveting master class in acting by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, and Lucian Msamati, the Ensemble Performance Award honorees for Edward Berger’s Conclave
In the bravest, most boundary-pushing performance of her illustrious career, Academy Award® winner and International Star Award honoree Nicole Kidman plays a married CEO entangled in an intense affair with her much younger intern in Halina Reijn’s Babygirl. Colman Domingo keeps upping his game, earning his second straight Spotlight Award for his stirring, superbly authentic portrayal – among a cast of non-professional former convicts – of the leader of a prison theater ensemble in Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing.
Like nothing you’ve ever seen before, Emilia Pérez is an audacious, genre-bending Spanish-language musical-crime-thriller-comedy that unfolds like a riveting fever dream thanks to the alchemical combo of director Jacques Audiard and cast members Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascón, and Edgar Ramírez, who share the Vanguard Award.
MORE HONOREES TO BE ANNOUNCED
Photo by Ryan Pfluger
Photo by Steve Grantiz
OPENING AND CLOSING NIGHT
CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE FESTIVAL WITH OUR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED OPENING AND CLOSING NIGHT FILMS! THESE SCREENINGS ARE THE PERFECT WAY TO KICK OFF AND CONCLUDE THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES IN STYLE.
OPENING NIGHT FILM: THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 AT 6:30 PM
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 AT 6:30 PM
FOR THE LATEST
UPDATES
AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILMS, VISIT US AT PSFILMFEST.ORG
TALKING PICTURES
Step into the spotlight with Talking Pictures, our exclusive series of marquee screenings featuring Hollywood’s biggest names and award-season contenders. These high-profile events include engaging Q&A sessions with celebrated filmmakers and renowned actors, offering a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most talked-about films of the year.
SCREENING TIMES AND LOCATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON. VISIT PSFILMFEST.ORG FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND DETAILS ABOUT THESE NOT-TO-BE-MISSED EVENTS!
TALKING PICTURES: BOOK TO SCREEN
In the beginning was the Word. From the earliest days of silent cinema, filmmakers recognized the importance of a script outline as a guiding road map. As feature films grew longer and more ambitious, the industry increasingly turned to literature for inspiration—a trend that remains robust today, evidenced by the continued popularity of book adaptations into films.
Book to Screen is a program dedicated to exploring the dynamic and often intricate relationship between written works and their cinematic adaptations. This program offers a unique opportunity to engage with the creative minds behind some of today's most compelling films and the books that inspired them.
Join us for extended discussions with the directors, screenwriters, and authors who brought these stories to life on screen.
FAMILY DAY!
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 FOR A FUN-FILLED FAMILY DAY AT MARY PICKFORD IS D'PLACE.
ENJOY FILMS, FACE-PAINTING, FOOD, GAMES AND MORE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MAKE THIS A MEMORABLE DAY FOR ALL AGES.
ADRIANNE & THE CASTLE
Shannon Walsh, Canada, 2024, 86 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 5:00 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 1:30 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 12:30 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 8:00 pm • PALM
As a monument to their whirlwind romance and boundless creativity, Alan and Adrianne St-George handbuilt a lavish 63-room castle in the Illinois countryside. Now, as Alan faces a future without the love of his life, he channels his grief into art, preserving the extravagant home as a shrine to their real-life fairy tale.
ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER
Pedro Almodóvar, Spain, 1999, 101 min.
Wednesday, January 8 • 5:00 pm • CAM
Pedro Almodóvar’s vibrant Oscar®-winning melodrama follows nurse Manuela (Cecilia Roth) in the aftermath of her teenage son’s tragic loss. While searching for the boy’s long-lost father in Barcelona, she forms a surrogate family that includes a pregnant nun (Penélope Cruz), a celebrated stage star (Marisa Paredes) and a transgender sex worker (Antonia San Juan).
AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE
Albert Serra, Spain, 2024, 125 min., Documentary
Thursday, January 9 • 5:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 11:30 am • FT
Winner of the top prize at Spain's San Sebastián Film Festival, Catalan provocateur Albert Serra's documentary on youthful bullfighting sensation Andrés Roca Rey offers a hypnotic, unflinching, and intimate view of the controversial sport and the isolating nature of fame. Warning: contains depictions of animal harm.
APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS
Petra Costa, Brazil, 2024, 110 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 4:00 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 2:45 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 7:45 pm • FT
Oscar®-nominated director Petra Costa charts the meteoric rise of evangelicalism and its transformative impact on Brazilian politics. With remarkable access to televangelists and presidents alike, this documentary delves into the disruptive power of religion over a young democracy.
AGENT OF HAPPINESS
Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó, Bhutan, 2024, 94 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 5:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 4 • 2:00 pm • CAM
Monday, January 6 • 11:30 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 9:30 am • FT
In this heartwarming, multi-layered study, Amber Kumar Gurung collects data for the Gross National Happiness Index by going door to door in the Bhutanese Himalayas. Along the way, he uncovers a complex portrait of life experiences that mirrors his own struggles and quest for happiness.
ARCADIA
Yorgos Zois, Greece, 2024, 99 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 11:15 am • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 3:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 11:45 am • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 7:00 pm • FT
Set in a ghostly, off-season Greek resort town, this haunted tale of grief and lost love begins when a retired doctor and his wife are summoned to identify the victim of a tragic car accident. What follows is a mysterious quest in a slippery realm where the dead seem to coexist with the living.
ARMAND
Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, Norway, 2024, 117 min.
Monday, January 6 • 1:15 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:15 am • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 6:30 pm • ANN
Friday, January 10 • 5:15 pm • CAM
Winner of the 2024 Cannes Best First Feature award, this complex yarn, directed by the grandson of Ingmar Bergman and Liv Ullmann, centers on the parents of two kindergartners and their fraught interactions with school authorities after 6-year-old Armand is accused of sexual abuse.
Norway’s submission to the Oscars®!
BAD SHABBOS
Daniel Robbins, USA, 2024, 84 min.
Friday, January 3 • 11:00 am • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:00 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 5:00 pm • CAM
Winner of the 2024 Tribeca Audience Award, this fastpaced comedy follows a New York Sabbath dinner that spirals hilariously out of control as several generations of modern Jews grapple with the tensions between secular and religious life – all while contending with a dead body in the bathroom.
AUCTION
Pascal Bonitzer, France, 2024, 91 min.
Friday, January 3 • 3:30 pm • ANN
Tuesday, January 7 • 8:15 pm • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:00 pm • CAM
While investigating a painting owned by a working-class family from the provinces, a hotshot Parisian art broker quickly realizes it’s a genuine Egon Schiele masterpiece looted by the Nazis in 1939. This thrilling drama is filled with deceit, surprises, and double dealings.
BILLY PRESTON: THAT’S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT
Paris Barclay, USA, 2024, 104 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 5 • 10:15 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 5:45 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 12 • 8:00 pm • FT
This mesmerizing, music-rich documentary charts the dazzling rise and tormented fall of keyboard genius and conflicted gay artist Billy Preston. Follow his journey from gospel roots in the 1950s to inspired collaborations with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to the 1970s in Topanga Canyon.
AUDREY
Natalie Bailey, Australia, 2024, 97 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 10:00 am • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 3:30 pm • LQ
Monday, January 6 • 1:45 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 7:45 pm • PSHS
When her spoiled teenage daughter Audrey falls into a coma, a delusional, washed-up soap star seizes the opportunity for a second chance by assuming her identity, hurling the wildly dysfunctional Lipsick family into a whirlwind of deceit, absurdity, and uproarious revelations.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater
101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta
46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
BLACK DOG
Guan Hu, China, 2024, 110 min.
Friday, January 3 • 1:45 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 4:15 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:30 am • FT
Returning after 10 years away, Lang finds his hometown partially abandoned and overrun by wild dogs. Hired to clear the area of strays before the 2008 Olympics, he forms a bond with a black dog that mirrors his own loneliness.
BLUE ROAD - THE EDNA O’BRIEN STORY
Sinéad O’Shea, Ireland, 2024, 99 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:30 am • ANN
Friday, January 10 • 8:30 pm • CAM
Condemned by the Catholic Church, the taboo-shattering Irish novelist Edna O’Brien, who passed away in 2024 at 93, is the subject of this fascinating portrait. Her feminism, liberated lifestyle, famous London parties, and brutally honest writing changed the landscape of Irish literature.
BOB MACKIE: NAKED ILLUSION
Matthew Miele, USA, 2024, 106 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 11 • 12:45 pm • CAM
A celebration of the six-decade career of legendary costume designer Bob Mackie, whose iconic, over-the-top creations have crowned him the king of Hollywood’s red carpet. A glittering cavalcade of Mackie’s celebrity clients, including Cher, Carol Burnett, P!nk, and Tom Ford, offers an inside look at his dazzling legacy.
BOB TREVINO LIKES IT
Tracie Laymon, USA, 2024, 102 min.
Friday, January 10 • 7:30 pm • ANN
Saturday, January 11 • 8:00 pm • MP
When Lily (Barbie Ferreira) turns to Facebook to track down her estranged father, she instead forms a surprising connection with a compassionate, childless stranger (John Leguizamo) who shares his name. Winner of the 2024 SXSW Grand Jury and Audience awards, writer/director Tracie Laymon’s witty, touching debut is inspired by her own extraordinary experiences.
BONJOUR TRISTESSE
Durga Chew-Bose, Canada, 2024, 110 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 7:30 pm • ANN
Sunday, January 5 • 7:00 pm • LQ
Monday, January 6 • 4:00 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 7:00 pm • PSHS
In Durga Chew-Bose’s enchanting adaptation of Françoise Sagan’s classic novel, 18-year-old Cécile (Lily McInerney) navigates a sun-drenched summer at the French seaside with her charming father (Claes Bang) and his new lover, until the arrival of an old friend (a deliciously wicked Chloë Sevigny) disrupts their idyllic existence.
BRING THEM HOME
Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, Daniel Glick, USA, 2024, 86 min., Documentary
Sunday, January 5 • 4:45 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 2:00 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:15 am • FT
A small, determined group of Blackfoot people strive to restore their land's ecology, cultural roots, and spiritual connection by reintroducing buffalo to Blackfeet territory, a century after the species' near-extinction. Narrated by Oscar® nominee Lily Gladstone, this evocative and moving film captures a powerful, community-led journey toward renewal and healing.
BUN TIKKI
Faraz Arif Ansari, India, 2024, 123 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 2:30 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:00 am • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:00 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • MP
Sanu is a child learning to navigate the challenges of identity and belonging as he struggles to fit into society’s norms and build a loving relationship with his father. Meanwhile, his grandmother, harboring secrets of her own, teaches him to embrace his uniqueness.
COLOR BOOK
David Fortune, USA, 2024, 99 min.
Friday, January 3 • 12:45 pm • MP
Sunday, January 5 • 5:00 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:00 am • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 6:00 pm • FT
A father and son journey through Atlanta on their way to their first baseball game together, navigating a new reality while facing both exasperating challenges and moments of tenderness. Director David Fortune’s debut feature delicately examines a father’s love in the wake of tragedy, creating an intimate family portrait.
BUSHIDO
Kazuyas Shiraishi, Japan, 2024, 129 min.
Friday, January 3, 1:30 pm, FT
Saturday, January 4, 8:00 pm, CAM
Wednesday, January 8, 10:15 am, FT
Friday, January 10, 8:30 pm, FT
Combining the classic themes of samurai films with modern questions of honor and morality, beloved filmmaker Kazuya Shiraishi's Edo-period drama follows a wandering ronin as he faces betrayal and revenge, all building to a pulse-pounding finale.
COME CLOSER
Tom Nesher, Israel, 2024, 107 min.
Friday, January 3 • 2:15 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 7:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 10:30 am • FT
The feature debut from Tom Nesher (daughter of Avi Nesher, subject of the documentary His Own Way, also at the festival) is a fierce drama inspired by family tragedy. When her beloved brother dies, Eden (Lia Elalouf) takes desperate measures to fill the void. Winner of multiple awards including the Viewpoints Award at Tribeca.
CHECKPOINT ZOO
Joshua Zeman, USA, 2024, 109 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:00 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 12:15 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 3:30 pm • FT
The heroic efforts of zookeepers and volunteers to rescue 5,000 animals under Russian bombardment from the Feldman Ecopark in Ukraine during the early days of the war are recounted in this edge-of-your-seat document. It is both a harrowing and uplifting testament to courage under fire.
THE CORRESPONDENT
Kriv Stenders, Australia, 2024, 119 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 7:00 pm • LQ
Sunday, January 5 • 5:15 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 5:45 pm • MP
Based on a harrowing true story, Australian war correspondent Peter Greste (a stellar Richard Roxburgh) is arrested and imprisoned in Egypt while covering the 2013 political unrest. Accused of terrorism, Greste becomes ensnared in a ruthless crackdown on truth, exposing the dangerous reality faced by journalists worldwide.
COUNTED OUT
Vicki Abeles, USA, 2024, 91 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 7:00 pm • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 11:30 am • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 3:45 pm • FT
This eye-opening panorama persuasively argues that we must change how we teach math in order to tackle the significant challenges we face – racial and income inequality, climate change, and political polarization. Addressing the issues of the future, the film offers an empowering new equation.
DESERT ANGEL
Vincent DeLuca, USA, 2024, 87 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 1:30 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 5 • 4:00 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 3:30 pm • LQ
Sunday, January 12 • 10:45 am • MP
In the unforgiving Sonoran Desert, Rafael Larraenza leads a volunteer organization dedicated to searching for migrants risking their lives to cross into the United States. When a Salvadoran woman reports her son is missing, Rafael sets off to find him in the sweltering borderlands.
DAHOMEY
Mati Diop, Senegal, 2024, 68 min., Documentary
Monday, January 6 • 4:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 2:00 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • PALM
In 2021, 26 looted treasures traveled from France to Benin, West Africa, where they are displayed in a hightech museum. The latest from Mati Diop (Atlantics, PSIFF 2020) is a thought-provoking, multi-award-winning hybrid documentary that explores how the return of these powerful pieces is received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence.
Senegal’s submission to the Oscars®!
DESIRE LINES
Jules Rosskam, USA, 2024, 83 min., Documentary Friday, January 3 • 10:30 am • PALM
Tuesday, January 7 • 2:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 6:15 pm • FT
After decades of concealing his trans identity, Ahmad, a 60-something Iranian expat, delves into the LGBTQ+ archives to explore his sexuality. With guidance from Kieran, a nonbinary archivist, he reimagines his life as an out trans man in this dreamy, sensual exploration of transmasculine desire.
THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE
Pete Browngardt, USA, 2024, 90 min.
Sunday, January 12 • 2:30 pm • MP
In the first-ever fully animated feature-length ‘Looney Tunes’ movie created for a cinema audience, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become Earth’s only hope when mindcontrolling aliens attack!
Family Day Film!
THE DIAMOND KING
Marq Evans, USA , 2024, 92 min., Documentary
Sunday, January 5 • 12:00 pm • LQ
Monday, January 6 • 7:15 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 4:30 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 12 • 5:45 pm • FT
For over 20 years, Dick Perez was the official artist of the Baseball Hall of Fame, painting the game's history and every Hall of Famer – a project he continues into his 80s. Director Marq Evans (Claydream, PSIFF 2022) tells the fascinating story of this childhood immigrant whose portraits transformed the commemoration of America's most iconic pastime.
DIANE WARREN: RELENTLESS
Bess Kargman, USA, 2024, 92 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 6:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 7:30 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 12 • 12:30 pm • FT
Hollywood’s most coveted songwriter – with Beyoncé, Cher, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Toni Braxton among her many devotees – writes heart-rending love songs but prefers animals to people. She’s worth billions but isn’t interested in spending it. Meet the prickly, fascinating musical poet who’s been nominated for 15 Oscars – and never won.
DRIVER
Nesa Azimi, USA, 2024, 90 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 6:15 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 11:30 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 2:30 pm • FT
Hit the open road with former stripper Desiree Wood as she rallies her fellow women long-haul truck drivers to battle a predatory, misogynistic industry. These hardbitten, freedom-loving drivers offer wonderful company in this artfully shot film.
DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT
Embeth Davidtz, South Africa, 2024, 98 min.
Friday, January 3 • 11:15 am • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:00 pm • FT
Set in Rhodesia in 1980, as the election of Robert Mugabe spells the end of white colonialism, actor Embeth Davidtz's dazzling directorial debut adapted from Alexandra Fuller's memoir unfolds through the eyes of eight-year-old Bobo.
DRIVE BACK HOME
Michael Clowater, Canada, 2024, 103 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 11:15 am • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 4:30 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 12 • 4:45 pm • MP
Inspired by a true story, this 1970s-set dramedy follows a gruff New Brunswick plumber (Charlie Creed-Miles) as he reluctantly drives to Toronto to bail his estranged, gay brother (Alan Cumming) out of jail. Forced together, the brothers face their differences on an unforgettable journey home.
DROWNING DRY
Laurynas Bareiša, Lithuania, 2024, 88 min.
Friday, January 3 • 2:30 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 11:00 am • CAM
Sunday, January 12 • 5:30 pm • FT
This subtle, powerful drama depicts a family tragedy through shifting perspectives and timelines. During what was meant to be a peaceful weekend in the countryside, two sisters on summer holiday with their families experience a life-altering event.
Lithuania’s submission to the Oscars®!
EMILIA PÉREZ
Jacques Audiard, France, 2023, 132 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 11:00 am • ANN
Monday, January 6 • 7:15 pm • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:30 pm • PSHS
A resourceful lawyer (Zoe Saldaña) helps a notorious Mexican cartel boss undergo gender-affirming surgery and start anew as Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón). Complications arise when Emilia attempts to reconnect with the wife (Selena Gomez) and children she left behind in this exhilarating, genre-defying musical.
France’s submission to the Oscars ®!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2
6:30 PM
OPENING NIGHT FILM: BETTER MAN PSFILMFEST.ORG FOR DETAILS
ARTS AT
January
SCREENING GUIDE
(102 min)
11:45 AM WAVES (111 min) 3:00 PM EVERY LITTLE THING (93 min) 6:00 PM OLD FOX (111 min)
10:15 AM THERE'S STILL TOMORROW (118 min) 1:45
10:00 AM THE NEW YEAR THAT NEVER CAME (138 min)
PM LOST LADIES (123 min)
PM THE CORRESPONDENT (119 min) 10:45 AM MANAS (101 min)
11:15 AM ARCADIA (99 min)
PM JEAN COCTEAU (94 min)
10:15 AM BILLY PRESTON: THAT’S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT (104 min) 1:30 PM QUISLING–THE FINAL DAYS (141 min) 5:30 PM UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE (89
January 6
10:30 AM A TRAVELER’S NEEDS (90 min) 1:15 PM ARMAND (117
10:45 AM HOMEGROWN (110 min) 2:00 PM NO OTHER LAND (96 min)
(112 min)
PM COME CLOSER (107 min)
PM SCHINDLER SPACE ARCHITECT (93 min) 8:00 PM MISERICORDIA (102 min)
11:45 AM ARCADIA (99 min) 3:00 PM WHATEVER IT TAKES (93 min) 6:00 PM THE EXILES (110 min)
10:15 AM A TRAVELER’S NEEDS (90 min) 1:15 PM FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE (125 min) 4:45 PM SANTOSH (120 min) 8:15 PM TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (126 min)
9:30 AM AGENT OF HAPPINESS (94 min)
CHECKPOINT ZOO (109 min)
PM THE STAMP THIEF (100 min) 11:30 AM YOU’RE NO INDIAN (78 min)
11:00 AM MEMORIES OF A BURNING BODY (90 min) 2:00 PM DAHOMEY (68 min)
AM WAVES (111 min)
AM OLD FOX (111 min)
Friday, January 10
10:00 AM WALTZING WITH BRANDO (107
10:00 AM TRIFOLE (100 min)
JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE (114 min)
11:00 AM MEETING WITH POL POT (112 min) 2:00 PM ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL (99 min)
9:00 AM LIFE (193 min)
PM JOHN CRANKO (135 min) 8:30 PM BUSHIDO (129 min)
Saturday, January 11
I AM NEVENKA (112 min) 10:15 AM TOKITO : THE 540-DAY JOURNEY OF A... (84 min) 1:00 PM TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (126 min)
THE
THIEF (100 min) 10:00 AM HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES (125 m.) 1:30 PM I’M STILL HERE (136 min) 5:15 PM FOUR MOTHERS (89 min) 8:00 PM A TRAVELER’S NEEDS (90 min)
Sunday, January 12
10:00 AM LILLY (108 min) 1:15 PM THERE’S STILL TOMORROW (118 min) 4:15 PM WALTZING WITH BRANDO (107 min) 7:30 PM MILLERS IN MARRIAGE (117 min)
10:00 AM THE FRIEND (123 min) 4:30 PM LOST LADIES (123 min)
11:00 AM THE WAY, MY WAY (98 min)
PM EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA (102 min) 8:15 PM SHAMBHALA (150 min) 10:00 AM PAPER FLOWERS (101 min) 1:15 PM A NICE INDIAN BOY (99 min) 4:30 PM SEX (125 min)
11:00 AM WALK WITH ME (89 min) 2:00 PM FROM GROUND ZERO (115 min) 5:45 PM THE DIAMOND KING (92 min)
9:00 AM TO KILL A MONGOLIAN HORSE (97 min) 12:15 PM THE STAMP THIEF (100 min) 3:45 PM COUNTED OUT (91 min) 7:00 PM ARCADIA (99 min)
10:30 AM COME CLOSER (107 min) 1:45 PM I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU (96 min) 5:00 PM GROUP THERAPY (86 min) 8:00 PM BILLY PRESTON: THAT’S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT (104 min)
9:30 AM SALLY! (96 min) 12:30 PM DIANE WARREN: RELENTLESS (92 min) 3:30 PM SOULEYMANE’S STORY (92 min) 6:30 PM LA SUPREMA (84 min)
2:30 PM HEADHUNTING TO BEATBOXING (62 min) 5:30 PM DROWNING DRY (88 min) 12:00 PM WHATEVER IT TAKES (93 min) 3:30 PM SACRAMENTO (89 min) 7:00 PM KNEECAP
EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA
Nabil Ayouch, Morocco, 2024, 102 min.
Friday, January 3 • 5:00 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:15 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 12 • 5:30 pm • CAM
Inspired by the fierce female poets who came before her, small-town chanteuse Touda dreams of becoming a true Sheikha (a traditional Moroccan performer). Tired of performing in provincial bars under men’s lustful gazes, she sets her sights on Casablanca.
Morocco’s submission to the Oscars®!
FLOW
Gints Zilbalodis, Latvia, 2024, 84 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 10:00 am • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 12:00 pm • LQ
Sunday, January 12 • 11:30 am • MP
After a flood destroys their homes, a courageous, resilient cat finds itself on a boat with various species in this profound animated meditation on the fragility of the environment and the importance of friendship and community.
EVERY LITTLE THING
Sally Aitken, Australia, 2024, 93 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 3:00 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 4:30 pm • ANN*
Sunday, January 12 • 5:00 pm • PALM
Up in the Hollywood Hills, the remarkable and empathetic Terry Masear tends to wounded hummingbirds, nursing them back to health. This joyful, gorgeously shot portrait teaches us as much about these fragile, amazing creatures as it does about the tenacity of the human heart.
*Free community screening
FOUR MOTHERS
Darren Thornton, Ireland, 2024, 89 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 4:45 pm • PSHS
Sunday, January 5 • 8:00 pm • CAM
Saturday, January 11 • 5:15 pm • PSHS
An Irish twist on Mid-August Lunch (PSIFF 2009), this dramedy follows a shy, commitment-phobic gay novelist living with his elderly mother. When his friends take off for Pride weekend, he finds himself caring for four eccentric, combative, and wildly different women.
THE EXILES
Belén Funes, Spain, 2024, 110 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 6:00 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 2:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 3:45 pm • MP
Still grieving her husband’s loss, a woman and her daughter receive an eviction notice to vacate their home in Barcelona, setting in motion a life-altering opportunity for them to rebuild by returning to their abandoned roots.
THE FRIEND
Scott McGehee, David Siegel, USA, 2024, 123 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 7:45 pm • PSHS
Sunday, January 5 • 4:30 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 10:00 am • ANN
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • CAM
In this delicious adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s beloved novel, an author (Naomi Watts) inherits a Great Dane after her best friend (Bill Murray) commits suicide. This enormous (and irresistible) dog wreaks havoc on her happily solitary New York life.
FROM GROUND ZERO
Various directors, Palestine, 2024, 115 min., Documentary
Sunday, January 5 • 3:45 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:30 am • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 5:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 2:00 pm • FT
Featuring the collective work of 22 filmmakers, this omnibus offers a view of life in Gaza during the ongoing war with Israel. Showcasing unique perspectives – from non-fiction and narrative to animation and experimental forms – this collaborative effort yields an expansive and powerful result.
Palestine’s submission to the Oscars®!
THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE
Magnus von Horn, Denmark, 2024, 115 min.
Monday, January 6 • 4:45 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 5:15 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 8:30 pm • MP
Gritty realism meets bold expressionist design in this truecrime drama set in WWI-era Copenhagen, following a factory worker, fired after becoming pregnant by her boss, who finds succor with a woman running an underground adoption agency for unwanted babies.
Denmark’s submission to the Oscars®!
FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE
Andreas Dresen, Germany, 2024, 125 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 1:15 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 4:30 pm • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 8:00 pm • FT
Set in Berlin in 1942, this stirring true story follows Hilde Coppi (Babylon Berlin star Liv Lisa Fries), a member of the anti-Nazi group “Red Orchestra” who falls in love with her cohort, Hans (Johannes Hegemann). Imprisoned by the Gestapo while eight months pregnant, she faces the ultimate test of love and courage.
GOOD MEN
Bobby Roth, USA, 2024, 93 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 5:45 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 1:15 pm • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 8:15 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:00 am • FT
Inspired by the birth of his grandson, filmmaker Bobby Roth gathered 50 friends – including Peter Coyote, Henry Winkler, and Michelle Satter – to take stock of their lives, loves, mistakes, and regrets in this wonderfully candid examination of the journeys we’ve taken.
GHOST TRAIL
Jonathan Millet, France, 2024, 106 min.
Friday, January 3 • 8:00 pm • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 5:15 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 2:00 pm • CAM
Hamid is part of a covert group hunting fugitive leaders of the Syrian regime. His mission brings him to France, on the trail of his former torturer. This gripping manhunt expertly balances cloak-and-dagger intrigue with an acute psychological exploration of grief and exile.
GRAND TOUR
Miguel Gomes, Portugal, 2024, 128 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 10:30 am • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:45 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 12:15 pm • FT
On his wedding day in 1917, British civil servant Edward skedaddles in existential panic, leaving his fiancée, Molly, behind. As he roams the exotic locales of East Asia, Molly remains hot on his trail, determined to be married, in a playful and unpredictable pursuit across the continent.
Portugal’s submission to the Oscars®!
GROUP THERAPY
Neil Berkeley, USA, 2024, 86 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 11 • 7:30 pm • ANN
Sunday, January 12 • 5:00 pm • FT
Laugh through the pain with some of the world’s top comedians as they gather to share personal stories at the intersection of comedy and mental health. Led by Neil Patrick Harris, these illuminating conversations offer catharsis, resonance, and plenty of gut-busting humor.
HANAMI
Denise Fernandes, Switzerland, 2024, 95 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 1:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 5 • 2:45 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 8:00 pm • FT
Weaving between the natural and magical worlds, young Nana lives on a remote volcanic island from which everyone eventually departs. Abandoned by her mother shortly after birth, she spends her days seeking the answer to the lingering question: Should she stay or should she go?
HARD TRUTHS
Mike Leigh, United Kingdom, 2024, 97 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 4:00 pm • PSHS
Tuesday, January 7 • 4:15 pm • PSHS
Friday, January 10 • 12:15 pm • PSHS
Legendary British director Mike Leigh reunites with Oscar® nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies) for an empathetic portrait of a dysfunctional family and its fierce matriarch, the prickly housewife Pansy (JeanBaptiste), who stands in stark contrast to her easygoing hair-salon-owner sister, Chantelle (Michele Austin).
HEADHUNTING TO BEATBOXING
Rohit Gupta, India, 2024, 62 min., Documentary
Friday, January 10 • 4:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 1:15 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 2:30 pm • FT
Once engulfed in violence, the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland transforms through the healing power of music. Produced by Oscar® winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), this showcase of the Naga tribes’ sonic heritage celebrates their resilience and creative spirit in a stunning visual landscape.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Scandar Copti, Palestine, 2024, 123 min.
Friday, January 3 • 11:30 am • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 11:15 am • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 5:15 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 1:45 pm • MP
Told in four chapters, this lively, naturalistic, awardwinning drama follows a family of Palestinian citizens of Israel in Haifa. Through his characters, Oscar®-nominated director Scandar Copti (Ajami) explores deep divides between genders and ethnicities while exposing the traditions and values that shape their lives.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater
101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta
46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
HIS OWN WAY - THE CINEMA OF AVI NESHER
Yair Raveh, Israel, 2024, 118 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 10:45 am • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:30 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 1:30 pm • FT
This fascinating look at Israeli cinema celebrates the work of filmmaker Avi Nesher, whose American education and unconventional methods made him a maverick. Captivating clips and interviews create an incisive portrait of an enduring artist who always felt like an outsider.
A HOUSE IS NOT A DISCO
Brian J. Smith, USA, 2024, 91 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 6:30 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:00 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 11:00 am • CAM
Fire Island Pines is often described as a gay paradise. This wide-ranging, seductive documentary offers a probing look at the men who live, work, and party there, examining its storied past, hedonistic flair, ecologically imperiled future, and the clash between different generations of gay men.
HOLY MOTHER
Antonio Chavarrías, Spain, 2024, 122 min.
Friday, January 3 • 12:30 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 7:15 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 5:45 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 1:15 pm • FT
In the 9th century, a nun becomes an abbess tasked with repopulating and Christianizing the border territories in conflict with the Moors. Her determination to fulfill her mission compels her to confront her family, the nobility, and ultimately the mighty Church itself.
HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES
Pat Boonnitipat, Thailand, 2024, 125 min.
Friday, January 3 • 4:45 pm • PSHS
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:45 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:00 am • PSHS
A lazy college dropout quits his job to care for his grandmother, hoping to inherit her fortune. This deeply affecting portrait offers an honest look at a family grappling with clashing values and dynamics as they face the impending loss of their matriarch.
Thailand’s submission to the Oscars®!
HOMEGROWN
Michael Premo, USA, 2024, 110 min., Documentary
Monday, January 6 • 8:30 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 5:15 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 10:45 am • FT
Startlingly intimate, this verité immersion into the lives of three fervent Trump supporters culminates at the January 6 insurrection. Illuminating, unsettling, and surprising, this purely observational document lays bare its swaggering subjects and the movement challenging the foundations of American democracy.
THE HUNGARIAN DRESSMAKER
Iveta Grófová, Slovakia, 2024, 129 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 5:45 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 11:15 am • FT
Set in the nationalistic, Nazi-allied wartime Slovak state, this powerfully visual tale follows Marika, a widowed dressmaker from the Hungarian minority, who loses her job in Bratislava. Back in her late husband’s village home, she hides a young Jewish boy.
Slovakia’s submission to the Oscars®!
I AM NEVENKA
Iciar Bollain, Spain, 2024, 112 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 4:00 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 7:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • MP
Based on a true story, this riveting drama follows council member Nevenka Fernández as she is relentlessly pursued by the town mayor, a man used to getting what he wants. Her decision to report him transforms her courageous fight into Spain’s first #MeToo case.
I’M STILL HERE
Walter Salles, Brazil, 2024, 136 min.
Monday, January 6 • 5:30 pm • PSHS
Saturday, January 11 • 1:30 pm • PSHS
From director Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, PSIFF 2005) comes his most personal and powerful film, telling the true story of a mother of five who reinvents herself as an activist after her family endures an unspeakable act of violence during Brazil’s dictatorship.
Brazil’s submission to the Oscars®!
I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU
Brian Crano, David Craig, USA, 2023, 96 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 7:00 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 5:15 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 7:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 1:45 pm • FT
As Dom (Nick Kroll) and Cole (Andrew Rannells) await their adoption’s finalization, they embark on a romantic Italian getaway. But when their car breaks down en route to a private dinner, their night quickly devolves into mayhem and miscommunication in this outrageous comic thriller.
I’M YOUR VENUS
Kimberly Reed, USA, 2024, 85 min., Documentary
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:30 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Venus Xtravaganza, the 23-year-old star of the iconic voguing documentary Paris Is Burning, was murdered before its release. Now, in this moving celebration of her life and legacy, her three New Jersey brothers team up with her ballroom family to reopen the unsolved case.
IGUALADA
Juan Mejía, Colombia, 2024, 81 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 5:00 pm • CAM
Monday, January 6 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:45 am • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 5:15 pm • MP
This intimate portrait chronicles the life of Francia Márquez, an Afro-Colombian political leader and activist who, through her presidential campaign, transformed the derogatory term “Igualada” into a symbol of defiance, and inspired a nation to envision a more equitable future.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater
101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta
46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE
Varda Bar-Kar, USA, 2024, 114 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Wednesday, January 8 • 3:30 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 1:15 pm • FT
The tumultuous journey of beloved singer-songwriter Janis Ian – who found fame as a teenager with her boundary-breaking song “Society’s Child” – unfolds in this saga of an artist who triumphed over homophobia, a misogynistic music industry, debilitating health issues, and a gun-toting lover.
JEAN COCTEAU
Lisa Immordino Vreeland, USA, 2024, 94 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 1:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 6:00 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:30 am • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 1:30 pm • MP
The director of wonderful documentaries on Cecil Beaton and Diana Vreeland turns her keen eye to the astonishing Jean Cocteau – artist, filmmaker, poet, novelist, designer, opium addict, and proud lover of men – who mastered every art form of the 20th century.
JOHN CRANKO
Joachim Lang, Germany, 2024, 135 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 1:00 pm • ANN
Friday, January 10 • 4:45 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 1:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • PALM
Driven by a quest for perfection, John Cranko (Sam Riley) is the toast of 1950s London until he’s prosecuted for homosexuality. Recruited by the Stuttgart Ballet, the manic workaholic revitalizes the company and builds a world-renowned ensemble while grappling with destructive urges in this dance-infused tribute to the virtuoso choreographer.
JULIE KEEPS QUIET
Leonardo Van Dijl, Belgium, 2024, 97 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 11:15 am • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 5:30 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:15 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 5:15 pm • MP
As the star player at an elite tennis club, high-schooler Julie’s life revolves around the game she loves. When her coach is suspended following an investigation, the players are urged to speak up. Julie, however, chooses to stay silent.
KILL THE JOCKEY
Luis Ortega, Argentina, 2024, 96 min.
Friday, January 3 • 11:00 am • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 4:00 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 8:00 pm • ANN
In this entertaining, equestrian-themed psychological thriller-comedy, a legendary jockey on a downward spiral must compete for a powerful gangster. A catastrophic race brings life-altering, gender-bending, and romantic consequences for everyone involved.
KNEECAP
Rich Peppiatt, Ireland, 2024, 105 min.
Monday, January 6 • 8:15 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 7:00 pm • LQ
Based on a politically charged true story, two young Irish men join forces with a local teacher to form the hip-hop group Kneecap, sparking a movement around the Irish language. Featuring the real-life Kneecap members playing themselves, this riotous anthem crackles with ripped-from-the-headlines energy and rebellious spirit.
Ireland’s submission to the Oscars®!
LIFE
Zeki Demirkubuz, Turkey, 2023, 193 min.
Monday, January 6 • 2:30 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:30 am • MP
Friday, January 10 • 9:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:00 am • MP
Winner of Best Feature at Malta’s Mediteranne Film Festival, this epic tale of fate and human frailty unfolds in Istanbul after a forced engagement drives Hicran (Miray Daner) to flee her home. When her fiancé tracks her down, the confrontation forces them to face their true feelings and desires.
Turkey’s submission to the Oscars®!
THE LAST JOURNEY
Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson, Sweden, 2024, 91 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 4:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 11:30 am • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 1:45 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 10:30 am • FT
In a heartfelt effort to rekindle his 80-year-old father’s zest for life, filmmaker Filip Hammar surprises him with a road trip to the French coastal town where they spent family holidays to revisit cherished memories in this touching and humorous first-person documentary. Sweden’s submission to the Oscars®!
LILLY
Rachel Feldman, USA, 2024, 108 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 7:45 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 5 • 4:45 pm • ANN
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:15 pm • PSHS
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • ANN
Patricia Clarkson shines in this rousing profile of courage as Lilly Ledbetter, the Alabama Goodyear factory worker whose tireless fight for women’s equal pay went all the way to the Supreme Court. Like Norma Rae and Erin Brockovich, Lilly packs a sweet punch for justice.
LA SUPREMA
Felipe Holguín Caro, Colombia, 2023, 84 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 10:00 am • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 6:30 pm • FT
In a forgotten Colombian town, a teenage girl dreams of becoming a boxer. When she learns her uncle will be fighting for the world title on live television, she and her community do whatever it takes to watch the event and win their own existential battle against obscurity.
Colombia’s submission to the Oscars®!
LIZA: A TRULY TERRIFIC ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY
Bruce David Klein, USA, 2024, 104 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 8:15 pm • PSHS
Monday, January 6 • 9:30 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 7:30 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 4:15 pm • ANN
Liza Minnelli tells her own story in this fabulous salute to an iconic talent. It’s all here: her childhood in mother Judy Garland’s shadow; her bonds with mentors Kay Thompson, Charles Aznavour, and Bob Fosse; her up-and-down marriages; and the triumphs of Broadway and Cabaret.
LOST LADIES
Kiran Rao, India, 2023, 123 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 1:45 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:15 am • MP
Friday, January 10 • 4:45 pm • MP
This delightful adventure follows two young brides from arranged marriages who are mistakenly swapped during a chaotic train ride, and find their lives flipped upside-down when, upon arrival, they lift their veils, revealing that each husband is now with the wrong wife.
India’s submission to the Oscars®!
MANAS
Marianna Brennand, Brazil, 2024, 101 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 2:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 10:45 am • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:00 pm • MP
Set in a remote corner of Brazil largely untouched by the modern world, this earnest and moving drama centers on 13-year-old Marcielle, who yearns to escape her hostile home and a village that has resisted change for generations.
LOVE ME
Sam Zuchero, Andy Zuchero, USA, 2024, 92 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 3:30 pm • LQ
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:00 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 8:30 pm • MP
In a post-apocalyptic landscape devoid of human life, a meet-cute occurs between a buoy and a satellite. Through the online devices left by humanity, they begin a romance that blurs the lines of their AI hardwiring. Featuring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, this bold directorial debut is a wry, genre-defying exploration of modern connection.
MARCO, THE INVENTED TRUTH
Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño, Spain, 2024, 101 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 4:30 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 12:45 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 2:00 pm • MP
Enric Marco (Eduard Fernández) has spent years crafting a convincing lie: that he was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. His charm and alleged bravery even earn him the presidency of the Spanish Association of Holocaust Victims. But one day, the truth catches up with him.
MALDOROR
Fabrice du Welz, Belgium, 2024, 153 min.
Monday, January 6 • 8:00 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 2:00 pm • CAM
Based on a notorious real-life case, this gripping Belgian noir follows a young maverick policeman’s obsessive pursuit of justice against an international pedophile ring. His quest puts him at odds with his superiors, his family and, ultimately, the law itself.
MATADOR
Pedro Almodóvar, Spain, 1986, 110 min.
Monday, January 6 • 8:00 pm • CAM
In one of Pedro Almodóvar’s earliest provocations, a former bullfighter (Nacho Martínez) and his pupil (Antonio Banderas) become entangled in a psychosexual game of perversion, false confessions, and murder. Notable for being one of the director’s earliest collaborations with Banderas, Matador remains a subversive, essential erotic thriller.
MEETING WITH POL POT
Rithy Panh, Cambodia, 2024, 112 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 4:15 pm • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 11:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 3:00 pm • FT
Eager to restore their image, the Khmer Rouge invite three French journalists to tour the Cambodian countryside and interview the regime’s leader, Pol Pot. The journalists, however, uncover the stark reality behind the propaganda, leading to a far more perilous journey than anticipated.
Cambodia’s submission to the Oscars®!
MISERICORDIA
Alain Guiraudie, France, 2024, 102 min.
Friday, January 3 • 7:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 11:00 am • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:00 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 8:00 pm • FT
The director of Stranger by the Lake concocts a sly brew of sex, religion, and murder in a provincial French village where the return of a polyamorous former local sets off a macabre chain of erotic events as unpredictable as it is perversely funny.
MEMORIES OF A BURNING BODY
Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, Costa Rica, 2024, 90 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 3:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 11:00 am • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 3:00 pm • MP
This intimate and lyrical exploration of the bodies of mature women and their sexuality follows three women in their twilight years, and invites everyone – regardless of gender, identity, or age – to question their own notions of pleasure and desire.
Costa Rica’s submission to the Oscars®!
MISTRESS DISPELLER
Elizabeth Lo, China, 2024, 94 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 8:00 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 3:00 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 5:45 pm • MP
In China, a mistress dispeller is a woman hired to break up extramarital affairs. In this intimately observed story, a suspicious wife hires the dispeller, Wang Zhenxi, who befriends both her husband and his younger mistress under fictitious pretexts, craftily working to restore her client’s marriage.
MILLERS IN MARRIAGE
Edward Burns, USA, 2024, 117 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 10:00 am • PSHS
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:45 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 2:30 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 7:30 pm • ANN
Writer/director/star Edward Burns and his knockout cast – Julianna Margulies, Gretchen Mol, Minnie Driver, Patrick Wilson, Campbell Scott, Benjamin Bratt, and Morena Baccarin – take stock of their rocky marriages and newfound desires in this rich study of life and love after 50.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater
101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta 46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
THE MOUNTAIN
Rachel House, New Zealand, 2024, 89 min.
Sunday, January 12 • 5:30 pm • MP
Led by the courageous Sam, a trio of enthusiastic young misfits embark on the quest of a lifetime to scale the majestic Mt. Taranaki and unlock its fabled healing powers. Along the way, the brave ragtag crew discovers profound truths about friendship, cultural heritage, and the thrill of adventure.
Family Day Film!
MY SWEET LAND
Sareen Hairabedian, Jordan, 2024, 86 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 12:00 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 6:45 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:45 pm • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 11:30 am • MP
Through an intimate, child’s-eye view of war, 11-year-old Vrej, raised in an Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, faces upheaval as conflict erupts. Forced to flee with his family, he wonders if he’ll ever play in the fields of his “sweet land” again.
MY FAVOURITE CAKE
Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha, Iran, 2023, 96 min.
Friday, January 3 • 1:45 pm • CAM
Monday, January 6 • 5:30 pm • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 8:15 pm • MP
A 70-year-old widow in Tehran disrupts her predictable routine by pursuing a relationship with a lonely taxi driver. As she embraces the possibility of new love, this unexpected meeting evolves into an unforgettable evening full of surprises.
NASTY
Tudor Giurgiu, Tudor D. Popescu, Cristian Pascariu, Romania, 2024, 104 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 4:45 pm • ANN Friday, January 10 • 6:00 pm • CAM
Saturday, January 11 • 4:30 pm • PALM
Featuring a wealth of exciting archival footage and interviews with contemporaries Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and Billie Jean King, this fascinating portrait explores a bygone era in tennis history through the lens of Ilie Năstase, Romania’s handsome, charismatic yet temperamental bad-boy champion.
MY LATE SUMMER
Danis Tanović, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2024, 98 min.
Friday, January 3 • 5:00 pm • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 11:00 am • CAM
Friday, January 10 • 10:30 am • MP
In this entertaining and poignant dramedy, a feisty woman travels to a remote Croatian island seeking answers about her past. As her mission takes longer than expected, the charming locale, quirky locals, and an unexpected romance reshape her views about her identity and ambitions.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s submission to the Oscars®!
NEVER ALONE
Klaus Härö, Estonia, 2025, 85 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 4:45 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 5 • 1:45 pm • ANN
This powerful film reveals a little-known chapter of history: the deportation of eight Austrian-Jewish refugees from Finland by the Gestapo during World War II. Abraham Stiller (Ville Virtanen), a pillar of Helsinki’s Jewish community, fights to save them in director Klaus Härö’s resonant, moving drama.
THE NEW YEAR THAT NEVER CAME
Bogdan Mureşanu, Romania, 2024, 138 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 4:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 10:00 am • FT
Monday, January 6 • 4:30 pm • MP
This slyly funny tragicomedy explores the 1989 fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu through the interconnected stories of six ordinary citizens. The feature debut of 2019 Palm Springs ShortFest Best of the Festival winner Bogdan Mureşanu is a thrillingly confident work full of wit, irony, and empathy.
A NICE INDIAN BOY
Roshan Sethi, USA, 2023, 99 min.
Friday, January 3 • 6:30 pm • ANN
Monday, January 6 • 5:30 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 7:00 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 12 • 1:15 pm • FT
In this hilarious rom-com, Naveen (Karan Soni) introduces his white fiancé Jay (Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff) to his conservative Indian parents, who must reconcile their traditional values with their son’s love while planning the perfect traditional Indian wedding to honor two gay men.
ODD FISH
Snævar Sölvason, Iceland, 2024, 104 min.
Tuesday, January 7 • 8:00 pm • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 4:30 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 12:45 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 2:15 pm • CAM
In this endearing dramedy, two childhood friends receive an opportunity to keep their seafood restaurant in the picturesque Westfjords open year-round. When one comes out as a trans woman, their long-standing friendship is tested, revealing new perspectives on life and identity.
NO OTHER LAND
Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor, Palestine, 2024, 96 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 11:00 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 2:00 pm • FT
This award-winning documentary, filmed over five years by a collective of Palestinians and Israelis, captures the systematic destruction of the villages of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank by the Israeli military. It’s both a shattering exposé and a nuanced story of cross-cultural friendship.
OLD FOX
Hsiao Ya-Chuan, Taiwan, 2023, 111 min.
Friday, January 3 • 6:00 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 2:30 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 10:00 am • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 4:00 pm • FT
In this thought-provoking drama, an affluent landlord nicknamed Old Fox teaches an 11-year-old boy the ways of wealth. But will these skills prevail over the values of kindness and generosity instilled by his economically struggling father?
ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL
Rungano Nyoni, Zambia, 2024, 99 min.
Friday, January 3 • 4:00 pm • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 8:15 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:00 am • MP
Friday, January 10 • 2:00 pm • FT
Piercing and enigmatic, this tale of patriarchy and betrayal follows a young woman as she witnesses an increasingly disconcerting grieving process following her uncle’s death. The loss triggers a reckoning with generational trauma for a family more inclined to ignore the past than confront it.
HIS WAY
John Maggio, USA, 2024, 98 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 1:30 pm • PSHS
Sunday, January 5 • 10:00 am • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 8:30 pm • CAM
Saturday, January 11 • 2:00 pm • CAM
With a career spanning eight decades, Ottawa-born singer-songwriter Paul Anka has left a lasting mark on the music industry. In this all-encompassing tribute, brimming with archival footage and candid moments, Anka – still going strong – offers in his own words a vivid glimpse into his remarkable life and enduring legacy.
PAPER FLOWERS
Mahesh Pailoor, USA, 2024, 101 min.
Monday, January 6 • 1:00 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 4:00 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 7:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • FT
What would you do if you had six months to live? At 22, Peace Corps volunteer and USC graduate Shalin Shah (Kapil Talwalkar) chooses to make a difference. Based on a true story, Shah’s viral manifesto urges people to cherish every moment, transforming his passion for life into a lasting movement.
PINK LADY
Nir Bergman, Israel, 2024, 104 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 3:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 12:30 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 4:30 pm • PALM
In an ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem, Bati leads a seemingly perfect life with her husband and three children. But her world begins to crumble when her gentle husband is blackmailed over a secret affair with his male Torah study partner.
PARTHENOPE
Paolo Sorrentino, Italy, 2024, 137 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 12:15 pm • PSHS
Sunday, January 12 • 1:30 pm • PSHS
From Oscar®-winning director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty, PSIFF 2014), this enchanting treatise on cinematic beauty unfolds in Naples, following the titular heroine whose irresistible allure captivates everyone around her as she embarks on a journey to discover her place in the world.
PRESENCE
Steven Soderbergh, USA, 2024, 85 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 8:30 pm • MP
A family fractured by a tragedy seeks a fresh start in a new home, only to discover a spirit awaiting them. Visionary director Steven Soderbergh combines stylistic innovation with the melancholy of a classic gothic, all told through a unique visual concept: a ghost story from the perspective of the ghost.
PAUL ANKA:
THE QUIET ONES
Frederik Louis Hviid, Denmark, 2024, 110 min.
Friday, January 3 • 8:00 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:45 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 8:15 pm • CAM
As the 2008 financial crisis hits Europe, a group of tenacious, ambitious men plan Denmark’s largest-ever heist. Led by a veteran boxer seeking redemption, this suspenseful caper explores the mechanics of the job, internal conflicts, and personal costs.
QUISLING – THE FINAL DAYS
Erik Poppe, Norway, 2024, 141 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 2:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 1:30 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 2:30 pm • ANN
Sunday, January 12 • 10:00 am • PSHS
Both a bold historical drama and a penetrating psychological study of a delusional authoritarian, the latest from director Erik Poppe (The King’s Choice, PSIFF 2016) revisits Germany’s occupation of Norway and its aftermath through the story of wartime puppet leader and Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling.
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN
Eran Riklis, Italy, 2024, 108 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 4:15 pm • ANN
Sunday, January 5 • 1:15 pm • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:30 pm • CAM
In this gripping adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s memoir, a fearless professor secretly gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to discuss forbidden Western classics after fundamentalists seize control of their country. Their solidarity helps them navigate life-altering choices in a repressive society. Winner of the Audience Award at the 2024 Rome Film Festival.
RIOJA, THE LAND OF A THOUSAND WINES
José Luis López-Linares, Spain, 2023, 96 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 3:30 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 1:30 pm • PALM
Friday, January 10 • 5:15 pm • FT
This sumptuous documentary invites viewers to savor the artistry of winemaking in La Rioja, showcasing stunning imagery and insights from winemakers, sommeliers, and award-winning enologists. Discover the rich variety of Spain’s most celebrated wines and the hidden secrets behind them.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater
101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA
CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA
FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs)
789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA
LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta
46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA
MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA
PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts
Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
SABBATH QUEEN
Sandi Dubowski, USA, 2024, 105 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 8:15 pm • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 3:00 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 4:00 pm • MP
Filmed over 21 years, this is the story of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, whose ever-evolving identity as a rabbi, drag queen, and religious reformer raises provocative questions about the future of Judaism. Determined to reform conservative Judaism from within, he encounters fierce resistance from all sides.
SALLY!
Deborah Craig, Jörg Fockele, Ondine Rarey, USA, 2024, 96 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 11 • 4:00 pm • CAM Sunday, January 12 • 9:30 am • FT
Texas-born Sally Gearhart was a fiery, charismatic lesbian feminist, teacher, and fantasy writer. She fought alongside Harvey Milk, founded a radical, free-loving women’s commune in Northern California, and comes to vibrant life in this funny, revelatory celebration of her high-octane legacy.
SACRAMENTO
Michael Angarano, USA, 2024, 89 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 8:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 5 • 8:00 pm • ANN
Friday, January 10 • 1:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 3:30 pm • LQ
In this crackling buddy comedy, Rickey (director/cowriter Michael Angarano) reunites with estranged friend Glenn (Michael Cera) for an impulsive road trip from Los Angeles to California’s capital. At vastly different stages in life, the two men reluctantly – and hilariously – confront fatherhood, fragile masculinity, and self-discovery.
SANTOSH
Sandhya Suri, United Kingdom, 2024, 120 min.
Friday, January 3 • 4:15 pm • PALM
Monday, January 6 • 11:00 am • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 8:30 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 4:45 pm • FT
After inheriting her late husband’s position as a police constable, Santosh (Shahana Goswami) is drawn into a high-profile case where police corruption makes justice elusive for the lower classes. Thankfully, she finds guidance from the magnetic feminist Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar).
United Kingdom’s submission to the Oscars®!
SATURN RETURN
Isaki Lacuesta, Pol Rodríguez, Spain, 2024, 105 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 7:00 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 12:45 pm • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 7:15 pm • FT
A rock band in the '90s navigates the narrow path between dazzling success and complete disaster, creating an album that defines a generation and forever changes Spain’s music scene. Inspired by one of Spain’s most popular bands, this unconventional biopic won multiple top awards at the 2024 Málaga Film Festival.
Spain’s submission to the Oscars®!
SEX
Dag Johan Haugerud, Norway, 2024, 125 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 11:45 am • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 4:30 pm • FT
Two men in heterosexual marriages confront challenges to their understanding of sexuality, gender, and identity in this formally inventive comedy that deconstructs masculinity, explores the complexities of human relationships, and asks the question: Is sex with another man cheating?
SCHINDLER SPACE ARCHITECT
Valentina Ganeva, USA, 2024, 93 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 1:30 pm • ANN
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:30 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 5:00 pm • FT
Dive into the life and work of the great modernist architect R.M. Schindler, who broke from the International Style (Richard Neutra was his bitter rival; Frank Lloyd Wright a difficult mentor) and introduced the California concept of indoor/outdoor living. Narrated by Meryl Streep and Udo Kier.
SHAMBHALA
Min Bahadur Bham, Nepal, 2024, 150 min.
Friday, January 3 • 10:00 am • FT
Monday, January 6 • 1:30 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 12 • 8:15 pm • CAM
In a stunningly beautiful polyandrous village, pregnant Pema faces harmful gossip when her main husband, Tashi, fails to return from a trading trip. Determined to set things right, she embarks on a journey with her other husband, the young monk Karma, to find him.
Nepal’s submission to the Oscars®!
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Mohammad Rasoulof, Germany, 2024, 168 min.
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:30 pm • PALM
An investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court grapples with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify – and then his gun mysteriously disappears. Suspecting his wife and daughters of involvement, he imposes drastic measures at home, causing tensions to rise.
Germany’s submission to the Oscars®!
THE SHAMELESS
Konstantin Bojanov, Switzerland, 2024, 115 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 8:30 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 3:30 pm • FT
This provocative drama set in India explores the forbidden relationship between Renuka (2024 Cannes Un Certain Regard Best Actress winner Anasuya Sengupta), a tough-as-nails sex worker on the run, and Devika (Omara Shetty), a teenager destined for a similar future.
SHELF LIFE
Ian Cheney, USA, 2024, 76 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 10:45 am • PALM
Monday, January 6 • 8:15 pm • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:45 pm • PALM
Saturday, January 11 • 12:45 pm • FT
Take a quirky, globe-trotting journey through the world of cheese, explore the craft of aging and its surprising parallels to human life. Eclectic – and eccentric –cheesemakers and mongers reflect on mortality and the art of perfection in this philosophical culinary delight.
SONS
Gustav Möller, Denmark, 2024, 100 min.
Monday, January 6 • 10:00 am • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:15 pm • PSHS
Saturday, January 11 • 2:15 pm • ANN
In this superbly acted, atmospheric prison drama from the director of The Guilty (PSIFF 2019), Sidse Babett Knudsen (TV’s Borgen) delivers a remarkable performance as a compassionate corrections officer whose untoward interest in a new inmate sets the stage for a gripping thriller.
SPACE COWBOY
Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt, USA, 2024, 98 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 4:30 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 5 • 10:00 am • PALM
Monday, January 6 • 6:15 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 5:00 pm • MP
This is the high-flying story of Joe Jennings, a pioneer of skydiving cinematography and Hollywood’s go-to man for gasp-inducing aerial stunts. A man most at home freefalling through space, he attempts the one stunt that has eluded him throughout his death-defying life.
THE STAMP THIEF
Dan Sturman, USA, 2025, 100 min., Documentary
Thursday, January 9 • 6:45 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 1:45 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Sunday, January 12 • 12:15 pm • FT
A Hollywood filmmaker learns of a treasure trove of priceless stamps stolen by a Nazi officer from concentration camp victims and buried in a house in Poland. Employing an Argo-like fake-movie ruse, he and his team set out to find the treasure, but run into complications they never expected.
SOULEYMANE’S STORY
Boris Lojkine, France, 2024, 92 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 10:45 am • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 3:30 pm • FT
Exhausted by the grueling Parisian gig economy, undocumented Guinean immigrant and bicycle courier Souleymane (2024 Cannes Un Certain Regard Best Actor winner Abou Sangaré) races against time to prepare for his asylum interview in this gripping social thriller.
A SUDDEN GLIMPSE TO DEEPER THINGS
Mark Cousins, United Kingdom, 2024, 88 min., Documentary
Sunday, January 5 • 1:45 pm • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:45 am • CAM
Sunday, January 12 • 8:00 pm • PALM
Many may not have heard of British artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, but filmmaker Mark Cousins’ personal, provocative testament to this remarkable woman raises the question of why she isn’t a household name. In a rare feat for a documentary, this poetic portrait took the top prize at the 2024 Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
SUJO
Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez, Mexico, 2024, 126 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 10:30 am • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 3:30 pm • FT
Friday, January 10 • 8:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 1:30 pm • MP
Sujo’s childhood is marked by devastating events that test his morals. When he becomes a teenager, he faces a choice between repeating his family’s history or breaking free from an unwanted heritage. This hopeful tale explores alternative paths to violence – challenging, uncertain, and, even if only slightly, possibly achievable.
Mexico’s submission to the Oscars®!
TALK TO HER
Pedro Almodóvar, Spain, 2002, 112 min.
Friday, January 10 • 7:15 pm • FT
Two unusual love stories intertwine as a journalist and a male nurse bond over their unwavering devotion to comatose women. Blending subversive humor, outlandish set pieces, and profound emotional resonance, Pedro Almodóvar’s Oscar®-winning masterpiece is a breathtaking treatise on passion and obsession.
SUNSHINE
Antoinette Jadaone, Philippines, 2024, 91 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 2:00 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 12:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 10:45 am • CAM
Saturday, January 11 • 5:00 pm • FT
Just days before her team’s tryouts for the Olympics, dedicated young gymnast Sunshine (a powerful Maris Racal) discovers she is pregnant. In a country where abortion is illegal, she must embark on a desperate and risky journey to fight for her autonomy.
TATAMI
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Guy Nattiv, Georgia, 2023, 103 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 6:45 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 7:15 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 6:30 pm • FT
Co-directed by the Iran-born Cannes Best Actress winner from Holy Spider (PSIFF 2023) and the Israel-born filmmaker behind Golda (PSIFF 2024), this tension-filled sports drama follows an Iranian judo champion who defies her country’s orders to forfeit a match, leading to dire consequences for her and her coach.
SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON
Reema Kagti, India, 2024, 127 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 6:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 2:30 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 4:15 pm • FT
Based on the life of aspiring filmmaker Nasir Shaik, who, short on funds but driven by his love of movies, sets out to remake a classic, enlisting his pals as cast and crew while transforming his small town of Malegaon into an unlikely dream factory.
THERE’S STILL TOMORROW
Paola Cortellesi, Italy, 2023, 118 min.
Friday, January 3 • 10:15 am • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 1:45 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 1:15 pm • ANN
A box office phenomenon in its native Italy, this surprising, humorous, and empowering musical melodrama follows an industrious working-class woman in post-WWII Rome as she rises above domestic violence to forge a brighter future for her daughter.
THREE KILOMETERS TO THE END OF THE WORLD
Emanuel Parvu, Romania, 2024, 105 min.
Wednesday, January 8 • 6:00 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:15 am • MP
In a conservative village on the Danube Delta, a brutal attack on a closeted gay teen sparks a moral panic, exposing the hypocrisy and corruption lurking beneath this seemingly tranquil rural community. Winner of multiple awards, including the Queer Palm at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Romania’s submission to the Oscars®!
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Mahdi Fleifel, United Kingdom, 2024, 105 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 2:30 pm • MP
Tuesday, January 7 • 5:00 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:45 am • MP
Friday, January 10 • 5:00 pm • FT
Winner of the SACD Prize at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, this gritty social-realist drama – with shades of Midnight Cowboy – follows two desperate Palestinian cousins stranded in Athens, far from their families and their dream of opening a café in Germany.
THROUGH ROCKS AND CLOUDS
Franco García Becerra, Peru, 2024, 83 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 5:30 pm • FT
Sunday, January 5 • 1:00 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 5:15 pm • FT
An eight-year-old alpaca shepherd, elated by Peru’s potential qualification for the 2018 World Cup, finds his world in peril when a mining company threatens to poison the water, destroy the region’s delicate ecosystem, and jeopardize the future of his community.
TINĀ (MOTHER)
Miki Magasiva, New Zealand, 2024, 124 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 12:00 pm • LQ
Sunday, January 5 • 7:15 pm • PSHS
Thursday, January 9 • 4:15 pm • PSHS
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • CAM
When grief-stricken Mareta (Anapela Polataivao) takes a substitute teaching role at an elite prep school, she forms a choir to unite the privileged yet disconnected students. As they prepare for an all-school competition, her passion for life is reignited, transforming her students forever in this rousing crowd-pleaser.
TO KILL A MONGOLIAN HORSE
Xiaoxuan Jiang, Malaysia, 2024, 97 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 1:15 pm • PALM
Monday, January 6 • 3:00 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:45 pm • MP
Sunday, January 12 • 9:00 am • FT
As a centuries-old way of life fades in Mongolia, a herdsman leads a dual existence – tending his ranch by day and performing horse tricks for audiences by night. This intimate, award-winning drama is inspired by lead actor Saina’s real-life journey between the horse show world and his own personal challenges.
TOKITO: THE 540-DAY JOURNEY OF A CULINARY MAVERICK
Aki Mizutani, Japan, 2024, 84 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 1:00 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:00 am • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:30 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 10:15 am • PALM
Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii and his team set out to transform a historic Japanese inn into the premier Tokyo destination for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience, incorporating all aspects of traditional Japanese cuisine.
TOUCH
Baltasar Kormákur, Iceland, 2024, 121 min.
Friday, January 3 • 4:30 pm • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 10:15 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 10:30 am • CAM
As COVID-19 shuts down international travel, an older widower, Kristoffer, embarks on a journey from Iceland to England and Japan to find Miko, the one who got away, in this achingly poignant romantic drama.
Iceland’s submission to the Oscars®!
TRIFOLE
Gabriele Fabbro, Italy, 2024, 100 min.
Thursday, January 9 • 7:45 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 4:45 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 1:45 pm • PALM
In this bittersweet portrait of a vanishing rural way of life, Dalia travels to Piedmont to care for her aging grandfather Igor, an expert forager. Armed with his field notes and loyal dog Birba, she searches for a prizewinning truffle to save his home.
TRANSFERS
Nicolás Gil Lavedra, Argentina, 2024, 90 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 4 • 4:00 pm • MP
Sunday, January 5 • 2:00 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 11:00 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 1:00 pm • MP
With the intrigue of a detective story, this poignant documentary combines testimonials, archival material, animation, and reenactments to explore a dark chapter in Argentina’s history: the infamous “death flights” carried out by the country’s brutal 1976-1983 military dictatorship, in which 30,000 people were disappeared.
TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN
Soi Cheang, Hong Kong, 2024, 126 min.
Saturday, January 4 • 5:45 pm • MP
Sunday, January 5 • 5:45 pm • CAM
Thursday, January 9 • 8:15 pm • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 1:00 pm • PALM
The densely populated Kowloon Walled City becomes a battleground between ruthless crime boss Mr. Big and a fierce band of protectors led by the citadel’s formidable leader, Cyclone. Meanwhile, a young refugee is caught in the martial arts melee in this nerve-jangling action spectacular.
Hong Kong’s submission to the Oscars®!
A TRAVELER’S NEEDS
Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, 2024, 90 min.
Friday, January 3 • 5:15 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 10:30 am • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 10:15 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 8:00 pm • PSHS
In this enigmatic comedy, a mysterious French woman (Isabelle Huppert) drifts through Seoul, blending into the everyday and vanishing into the background. Struggling without money or means, she finds solace in makgeolli (Korean rice wine), and takes up work as a French teacher for two Korean women.
UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
Matthew Rankin, Canada, 2024, 89 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 5:30 pm • FT
Monday, January 6 • 5:00 pm • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 1:30 pm • MP
In this whimsical ensemble comedy, two kids find a banknote frozen in ice, a tour guide leads baffled visitors, and a government drone returns home to uncover something amiss with his family, creating a mosaic of wintry Winnipeg that’s both comically surreal and profoundly human.
Canada’s submission to the Oscars®!
VERMIGLIO
Maura Delpero, Italy, 2024, 119 min.
Friday, January 3 • 8:00 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 12:30 pm • FT
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:00 am • FT
Saturday, January 11 • 11:30 am • MP
The arrival of a young army deserter from the South during the final year of World War II sends ripples through a remote mountain community, profoundly impacting the extended family of a local school teacher in this intimate drama that garnered multiple awards at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
Italy’s submission to the Oscars®!
WALTZING WITH BRANDO
Bill Fishman, USA, 2024, 105 min.
Tuesday, January 7 • 7:30 pm • ANN
Friday, January 10 • 10:00 am • ANN
Sunday, January 12 • 4:15 pm • ANN
Based on a true story, Los Angeles architect Bernard Judge (Jon Heder) arrives in Tahiti for a new project and finds himself collaborating with none other than counterculture icon Marlon Brando (Billy Zane). Inspired by the beauty of the local atolls, the two embark on establishing a groundbreaking eco-resort.
THE WAILING
Pedro Martín-Calero, Spain, 2024, 107 min.
Friday, January 3 • 7:15 pm • MP
Friday, January 10 • 8:00 pm • MP
Saturday, January 11 • 7:00 pm • LQ
Three women, separated by time and space, are unknowingly linked by an inexplicable threat. A sinister force is stalking them and provoking unthinkable acts of violence, all with one chilling connection: the haunting sound of a wailing.
WAVES
Jiří Mádl, Czech Republic, 2024, 111 min.
Friday, January 3 • 11:45 am • FT
Tuesday, January 7 • 11:30 am • MP
Thursday, January 9 • 10:00 am • MP
Set in 1968, a pivotal moment in modern Czech history, this dynamic and suspenseful drama follows the international office at Czechoslovak Radio led by editor Milan Weiner, whose commitment to honest journalism and the truth puts the organization in the crosshairs of the secret police.
Czech Republic’s submission to the Oscars®!
WALK WITH ME
Heidi Levitt, USA, 2024, 89 min., Documentary
Saturday, January 11 • 3:15 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 11:00 am • FT
In 2019, art director Charlie Hess was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. In this tender and clear-eyed film, his wife, acclaimed casting director Heidi Levitt, chronicles the metamorphosis of their marriage over the next four years as she becomes his loving caretaker, learning to adapt to an ever-changing reality.
THE WAY, MY WAY
Bill Bennett, Australia, 2024, 98 min.
Sunday, January 5 • 6:15 pm • MP
Monday, January 6 • 10:00 am • PSHS
Sunday, January 12 • 11:00 am • CAM
Stubborn and cantankerous Australian director Bill Bennett adapts his own best-selling memoir chronicling his experience walking the 800-kilometer Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail across northern Spain just months before his 60th birthday.
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Jenny Carchman, United Kingdom, 2024, 93 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 6:15 pm • MP
Wednesday, January 8 • 7:45 pm • PALM
Thursday, January 9 • 3:00 pm • FT
Sunday, January 12 • 12:00 pm • LQ
This jaw-dropping true crime documentary thriller begins with the online harassment of a journalist in 2019. As the threats grow more ominous and bizarre, the FBI enters the scene, and this wild yarn broadens to expose a conspiracy with chilling implications for us all.
YOU’RE NO INDIAN
Ryan Flynn, USA, 2024, 78 min., Documentary
Tuesday, January 7 • 2:00 pm • FT
Thursday, January 9 • 11:30 am • FT
Thousands of Native Americans have been “disenrolled” – removed from their tribes. This thoughtful documentary examines the issues behind these decisions, exploring the complex political and cultural dynamics at play within the tribes and the impact of disenrollment on Native communities.
WHEN FALL IS COMING
François Ozon, France, 2024, 102 min.
Friday, January 3 • 4:00 pm • CAM
Tuesday, January 7 • 4:30 pm • ANN
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:00 am • CAM
The versatile and prolific filmmaker François Ozon channels a touch of Claude Chabrol in this taut drama exploring generational tensions and the art of rulebreaking. Hélène Vincent and Josiane Balasko shine as old friends who share both an unconventional past and difficulties with their children.
ZURAWSKI V. TEXAS
Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault, USA, 2024, 99 min., Documentary
Friday, January 3 • 1:15 pm • PALM
Thursday, January 9 • 10:00 am • FT
Prepare to be outraged and moved by this impassioned film about the fight for reproductive rights in Texas, featuring extraordinary women and a brave lawyer who wage an uphill battle against the state’s draconian laws, which have put the lives of so many women in peril.
WILLIAM TELL
Nick Hamm, United Kingdom, 2024, 132 min.
Friday, January 3 • 7:15 pm • CAM
Sunday, January 5 • 2:00 pm • CAM
Wednesday, January 8 • 10:30 am • ANN
Saturday, January 11 • 4:45 pm • CAM
Legendary crossbow marksman William Tell gets an epic drama that goes beyond the apple on his son’s head. In 1307, the power-hungry Austrian Hapsburgs encroach on peaceful Switzerland. Tell (masterfully played by Claes Bang, also at the festival in Bonjour Tristesse) realizes what matters most: his family and preserving his country’s independence for future generations.
THEATER KEY
ANN Annenberg Theater 101 N Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA CAM Camelot Theatres Palm Springs Cultural Center 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA FT Festival Theaters (formerly Regal Palm Springs) 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA LQ Cinemark Century La Quinta 46-800 Washington St, La Quinta CA MP Mary Pickford is D’Place
36850 Pickfair St, Cathedral City, CA PALM Palm Canyon Theatre
538 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
PSHS Richards Center for the Arts Palm Springs High School
2248 Ramon Rd, Palm Springs, CA
THE FILM SOCIETY EXTENDS OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL OUR MEMBERS
AN EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS
CHAIRMAN LEVEL MEMBERS
Cindy Blikre & Michael Cornelo, Todd Burke & Dennis Wolframski, Kelly Caruso, Nachhattar & Susana Chandi, Judge Tom Chiola (Ret), Mark Coleman & Terence Kissack, Camille Cook, Clara DiFelice, Kathi Garcin, George F Hamel Jr, Dan Harries & Andrew Faye, Nancy Kranzberg, Bobbi Lampros, Athalie & Adnan LaPamuk, Carlos J. Ledezma, MD & Mary Clare Lynch de Ledezma, Gary Loeb, Michael Marchi & Silva Mirzoian, Harold Matzner & Shellie Reade, Antonio Shelby & Gregory Shelby, Jim & Kathy Simpson, Stephanie Wernig
PREMIERE LEVEL MEMBERS
Michael Amaro & Les Young, Mario Bertucci, Heather Burek, Mr. Michael W Elliot & Ms. Sandra B. Norman, Nanci Garoon, Jim Gomes,
Sandra Hayward Feriancek, Zan Merriman, Patrick Mundt, Randy Paschke & John Bisceglia, Harrison Pierce, Fred & Richel Roggin, Deborah Schwarz & Chris Thomas, Lori & Aubrey Serfling
PRODUCER LEVEL MEMBERS
Ken & Vicki Alterwitz, Betsy Aubrey, Lewis Brown, Tom Carlock, Kate & Nate Cheney, Linda Cheever,
Anita & George Cooks, Betsy Crowe, Garret Demarest & Tim Murphy, David Denison, Iljose Dobler, Michaele Drayer, Donna & Robert Dughi, Seth & Sylvia Evans, Glenn Flood & Louise Passey, Rich Gordon,
Stella Green, Dr. Kenneth P. Green, Rahul Jadhav, Gina Kakos, Carol & Bill Kaplan, Don Kasper & Jim Bochinski,
Christine M. Keen, Mary Ann LaBahn & Ryann Whalen, William LaBahn, Nicole MacNaughton, John McDonald-O’Lear, Bill Mitchell & David Vignolo, Tim Murphy, J. Michael Naughton, Tom O’Brien, Loren Ostrow, Marsha Pachter, Dr. Joseph Palacios, Gail A. Pischak, Catharine Reed, Judi Rees,
Marcella Ruble, Arlene Colman-Schwimmer & Arthur E. Schwimmer, Stanton Segal, Leigh Silverton, Sylvia Skratek, Gary & Nanci Smaby, Vanessa Smith, Jeffrey Sosnick, Julie Spira, Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns, Paige Sullivan, Mary Sussmann, Tom Swedenburg, Caroline Thompson, Mike & Sally Traidman, George & Carla Van Hoomissen, Edward Woods, Dr. Les Zendle & Jerry Hanson
FILMS A TO Z
FESTIVAL STAFF 2025
2025 FESTIVAL
EXECUTIVE
Lili Rodriguez, Artistic Director
Rhea Woodson, Managing Director
ADMINISTRATION
Alexander Paz, Operations Manager
Felicia Alford, Accountant & HR Manager
Jose Padilla, Accounting Assistant
Judith Beltran, Office Coordinator
Debbie Ray-Scanlon, Volunteer Manager
Jim Gazan, Assistant Volunteer Manager
PROGRAMMING
Jennifer Van Camp, Programming & Education Manager
Stephanie Pineda, Programming Coordinator
Phil Segal, Programming Assistant
Sammy Merabet, Programming Intern
Hilary Gil, Programming Intern
David Ansen, Lead Programmer
Therese Hayes, Senior Programmer
Alissa Simon, Lead Programmer
Hebe Tabachnik, Programmer
Jesse Knight, Programmer
DEVELOPMENT | MARKETING
Kelly Rogers Ph.D.,
Business Development & Sponsorship Manager
Anne Blalock, Philanthropy Relations Manager
Vanessa Reyes, Development Intern
Alana Maiello, Marketing Manager
Allie Dinielli, Marketing Assistant
Cindy Chavez, Marketing Intern
Madeline Reardon, Marketing Intern
Martin Foster, Creative Services
CREATIVE
Martin Foster, Designer
Joel Hoglund & Martin Foster, Publications Coordinators
Jesse Knight, Publications Editor
Poster Art by LAssociates
FESTIVAL OPERATIONS
Aaron Ridenour, Technical Director
Zack Solomon, Theater Operations Manager
Angelina Quirante, Theater Operations Assistant Manager
Rebecca Montalvo, Special Events Manager
Clayton Martin, Print Traffic Manager
Jesse Dubus, Print Traffic Coordinator
BOX OFFICE
Caroline Harbour, Box Office Co-Manager
Casey Knight, Box Office Co-Manager
Debbie Wright, Concierge Manager
Susan Nathan, Concierge Assistant
Sally Suchil, Credentials Manager
FILM AWARDS
Christina Sasse, Director of Operations & Producer
Scarlett Wilmsen, Manager
Jessica Jazayeri, Associate Director
Ron Sylvester, Show Director
Daniel Kleba, Production Manager
Andrew Schaff, Front of House Manager
Jessica Hendershot, Transportation Manager
Brian Bell, Transportation Coordinator
Jarelle Balanzat, Seating Coordinator
Diane Chenowith, Executive Assistant
Joel Hoglund, Program Writer
Martin Foster, Designer
PUBLICITY
Scenario Communications:
Steven Wilson, Co-Founder/President
Lauren Peteroy Kelly, Vice-President
Kylie Elliot, Senior Account Executive
Austin Good, Account Executive
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Chris Feil, Jesse Knight, Linton Melita, Phil Segal
GUEST RELATIONS
Clay Pruitt, Guest Relations Manager
Jack Heggi, Guest Relations Coordinator
Jorge Molina, Guest Relations Coordinator
SCREENING TEAM
Emily Alvarez, Holly Copeland, Margo Handelsman, Laura Hein, Suzanne Hogsett, Gilbert Khoury, Donna Lawton, Joan Matthias, Craig Parish, Mike Simonyi, Barbara Sisto, Phil Segal, Dominique Wulfekuhle
