The Palm Springs International Film Festival is a Coachella Valley institution—yet due to that reason we’re all so sick of talking about, the festival has not included an in-person event since 2020.
Barring anything unforeseen, that will finally change in 2023. On Thursday, Jan. 5, the PSIFF will return with the star-studded Film Awards, followed by the first day of screenings on Friday, Jan. 6. Films will run until Sunday, Jan. 15, at various venues.
When I chatted last year with the festival’s artistic director, Lili Rodriguez, she talked about what was supposed to be a 2022 comeback. Then came the omicron variant-fueled COVID-19 spike, which led the festival to cancel in-person events out of an abundance of caution. This year, however, things are looking a lot more concrete.
“Last year, even as we were preparing, and as we were setting things in place, there was always that big question mark, because everything was still so new,” Rodriguez said during a recent Zoom chat. “We’ve had enough time to learn how to live with this; we’ve had enough time for people to get accustomed to wearing masks if they’re not comfortable. There are fewer unknowns this year. We were very prepared last year; it’s just the type of COVID that was spreading in late November and December (of 2021) was a lot more infectious.”
While the in-person events were cancelled, Rodriguez and her team are still proud of 2022’s festival.
“We feel like we had a sort-of festival,” Rodriguez said. “We had a lineup; we had a competition. Yes, we weren’t able to share the films with audiences, but we felt really good about the work that we did do, even if, sadly, we couldn’t put on the show. Our staff really dedicated months and months, and some of our staff dedicated almost a year.”
For the 2023 edition of Palm Springs International Film Festival, 134 films from 64 countries will be screened across the valley. While that sounds like a lot of movies, Rodriguez made it clear that their process consists of “quality, not quantity.”
“We want to make sure that we’re choosing the best films for this audience, and films that we’re proud to show,” Rodriguez said. “It’s never been a case of wanting to do more, wanting to be bigger; it’s more of finding the right things for the audience.
“There isn’t a big difference (this year) when it comes to the categories that we have. Last year, we did have some special sidebars with music and film-related things; this year, we’re back to just our regular sections, which are really solid sections. We have Modern Masters, which is for established directors who are still making films, and we have New Voices New Visions for filmmakers who are early in their careers. We have Awards Buzz, which is the section for films that have (been) submitted to the Oscars for the international category.”
Rodriguez said the 2023 festival may be the most thematically diverse so far.
“There are no two movies that are similar to each other, and there really is so much in the lineup across genres,” Rodriguez said. “We have comedy and drama, like always; we have a ton of documentaries; we have sci fi; we have horror; we have a little bit of everything. It feels like a very robust and full lineup this year, even if we’re ‘only’ at about 134 movies.”
Some COVID-19 protocols remain in place this year, such as limited-capacity screenings and a spaced-out schedule.
“Of course, part of living in a COVID world means we’re thinking about how can we make it safer and more comfortable for people to come back into the theaters,” Rodriguez said. “We know that people might not be ready to run around and watch four or five movies a day, so we’re having three movies a day that you could comfortably watch. We’re at 75% capacity in the venues, so there’s plenty of room to spread around, and you won’t feel overcrowded by people. We’ve also scheduled the films so there’s a little more wiggle room in between the screen so that people can go grab snacks, etc. It makes it a lot more casual.”
The selection process for the popular festival can be taxing, so I was curious if Rodriguez is still able to enjoy a movie in her free time.
“I don’t think I ever get sick of movies, though it is a very physical activity,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of people think it’s all fun, and we’re watching a lot of movies, and it is, but it can be a very physical thing to do, both psychologically and emotionally. I’m not knocking it; it’s the best job I’ve ever had. There’s always that one movie that reminds you why you do the thing—that really special film that just makes it all make sense.”
One of those special films to Rodriguez will be featured at the opening-night screening, 80 for Brady. The film stars Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin, who are all scheduled to attend the opening ceremony.
“Our opening-night film was probably the last film I saw, and the last film we invited,” Rodriguez said. “I couldn’t stop cracking up; I had so much fun. It’s brimming with joy and has a lot of heart, and it’s got a Mount Rushmore of actresses.”
One of the festival’s best aspects is the number of actors and directors who come to discuss their films. This year will also feature the documentary Shot in the Arm with director Scott Hamilton Kennedy and subject Neil deGrasse Tyson scheduled to attend; Alice, Darling with Anna Kendrick set to be here; Linoleum, with director Colin West and actors Jim Gaffigan and Rhea Seehorn set to attend; and many others.
“We wish we could have a filmmaker for every single film, because that is what makes film festivals so important and special,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the dialogue that comes out of watching these movies together. It not only answers some questions people might have about the film, but it might present you with a different way of looking at the film you just saw that you weren’t thinking of. It’s the most important part about doing film festivals for me, personally, and I think it’s what our audiences really enjoy as well.”
Local films are on display, as always, at this year’s fest.
“Last year, we had a lot of local films, and this year, we have two local spotlights,” Rodriguez said. “We have Don’t Worry Darling, which, of course, was filmed in Palm Springs, and some of our audience might be familiar with it. How can we not spotlight it? It’s such a Palm Springs film. Then we have another great film called Racist Trees, a documentary that chronicles the trees on Tamarisk that came down in 2018. There’s a whole debate about what those trees signified, so it chronicles that whole issue. The filmmakers are coming down, and I know that we are going to have a large Palm Springs presence as well.”
Festival organizers are making a special effort to get students involved this year.
“We have started a student pass for college-age students. They can get basically a benefactor pass, which is about $500, for $100,” Rodriguez said. “It’s for as many films as you want to watch. I wish I could have had that opportunity when I was still in school. We also … have identified a number of films that will be free to high school students if they show up with their ID. They’re on the weekend, Friday night, or Saturday and Sunday, and we’re welcoming all high school-age students to come down and watch some films. They’re in the regular lineup, and they’re appropriate for students to watch, so they’re watching what a festival film looks like.”
The Palm Springs Film Festival takes place from Friday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 15. For tickets, complete schedules and more information, visit psfilmfest.org.