T
he Palm Springs International Film Society
strives for a world in which enlightenment,
knowledge and tolerance prevail.
They believe film as an art form has the power to
bridge cultures and illuminate the universality of
the human experience.
THE PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM SOCIETY
The Festivals
The Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International ShortFest are
presented under the auspices of the Film Society and manifest the organization’s mission by nurturing
and encouraging new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema and providing
audiences with a unique opportunity to engage in an appreciation of and a dialogue about the art of
cinema as it is represented around the world.
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Now entering its 25th year, the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) reaches this milestone
as one of the most prestigious and well-attended film
festivals in the country. Scheduled from January 3 13, 2014, the Festival has long secured its place on the
world stage as the portal for the very best in world cinema, welcoming more than 136,000 enthusiastic and
sophisticated filmgoers to Palm Springs every January.
Now entering its 20th year, the Palm Springs International ShortFest is the largest short
film event and film market in North America, regularly screening 325+ short films,
curated from more than 3,000 submissions from over 50 countries. With a concurrent
Film Market of 2,700 titles, ShortFest is
recognized as a prime scouting ground for
new talent. This year’s event is scheduled
for June 17-23, 2014.
The depth and breadth of film offerings - all set against
the dramatic backdrop of Palm Springs – features more
than 180 films from over 70 countries and includes
the largest selection Foreign Language Oscar® submissions of any Festival in the nation. Film screenings,
special presentations, tributes, on-stage celebrity interviews and nightly parties with a
decidedly international flair have earned the
Festival the support of local, national and
international key component of the 12-day
experienced by an enthusiastic and sophisticated audience of more 135,000.
One of only a handful of Oscar®-qualifying
Festivals in the country, all first place winners in live action, animation and “Best of
the Fest” categories are automatically qualified for nomination consideration by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. To
date, ShortFest has screened 94 films that have gone
on to receive Academy Award nominations. Selection
has become a badge of honor for filmmakers, ensuring
the highest quality films and an avid audience base.
Helen Mirren
PSIFF has also evolved into one of the
most highly anticipated preludes to the
Oscars®. The Festival’s glamorous centerBen Affleck
piece, the black-tie Awards Gala, scheduled for January 4, 2014, honors the year’s brightest talents in front of and behind the
camera before a glittering crowd of 2,000 attendees. Recent honorees have included
Brad Pitt, Helen Mirren, George Clooney, Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet, Javier Badem, Carey Mulligan, Jennifer Lawrence, Ben Affleck and Naomi Watts. The national
and international print and electronic media converge on Palm Springs generating
over 1 billion media impressions worldwide.
Michael Douglas & Peter Bart
Dustin Hoffman
Membership
The Palm Springs International Film Society lends its name to its member organization. A
group designed for film enthusiasts, the benefits of membership include invitations to attend
monthly “sneak preview” screenings of major motion pictures. Members also receive early access to purchase tickets and passes for the film festivals, priority seating at select special events,
discounts on merchandise and much more. Membership fees begin at just $50.00 annually.
Best of all, membership revenue supports their Educational and Community Outreach Programs and a
portion of the annual fee is tax-deductible.
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Over 400 filmmakers attend annually to gain exposure for their films and to participate in the ShortFest
Forums, two and a h alf days of panels, master classes
and roundtables designed to broaden their knowledge
and further their careers. While the majority of its
films are created by up and coming 20 to 35 year-old
directors, ShortFest has a broad appeal, attracting an
audience of 25,000 avid filmgoers.
Educational and Community
Outreach Programs
The Palm Springs International Film Society has worked hard to
secure their place in the global film arena, while putting equal effort into Educational and Community Outreach Programs. From
mentorships and internships for students to an ongoing series of
free classic films for the community-at-large, these vital and always
evolving programs anchor their place in our community.