Sneak Peek at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards in January

Things are starting to heat up in preparation for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, now in its 21st year which will run from January 5-18. Our film fest is recognized as one of the largest in the world; it features 400 screenings of more than 200 films from some 60 countries. It has built a strong reputation for support of independent films, and provides a platform for international film makers whose own home nations barely support their film industry. Each year, the film festival committee tirelessly reviews a huge number of films to present a broad range of quality pictures. Since its inception, the film festival also brings a heavy dose of Hollywood glamor, with the Awards Gala, a star-studded red carpet event that attracts throngs of fans, international news media and paparazzi to cover the event. I have a few hot tips to share about the upcoming Awards night. I have learned that Morgan Freeman will receive the Career Achievement Award for Acting. Also, the lovely Anna Kendrick will be honored with the Rising Star Award for her performance in Up in the Air. And here's a surprise: Mariah Carey will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award, in recognition for her performance in “Precious,” about a social worker based on the novel "Push" written by Sapphire. If you have not heard of it yet, Precious opens nationwide this Friday and already has tremendous buzz. As we get closer to the film festival, there will be plenty of other big names announced as award recipients, so stay tuned for more. The host of the Film Fest Awards Gala once again will be Palm Springs' very own Mary Hart of TV's "Entertainment Tonight". So start planning your trip to our desert so you can catch the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Here is what you need to know:

• Dates: January 5-18, 2010
• Films will be seen on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs.
• Tickets: Passes, awards gala, opening and closing night tickets and packages are available now.
• Individual ticket sales begin Dec. 24 for Palm Springs International Film Society Members, Dec. 26 for the general public.
• Information: (760) 322-2930 or psfilmfest.org

I've covered the Palm Springs Film Fest for several years. If you want to refresh your memory, here are a few prior posts I've written right here on this humble little blog:

• Retrospective of Past Winners
• 2009 Palm Springs Film Fest
• 2008 Palm Springs Film Fest
• Sonny Bono's Vision of the Palm Springs Film Fest

Thanks for stopping by!
-Rick Rockhill