Our Mission
The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness.
Our Vision
Palm Springs International Film Society strives for a world in which enlightenment, knowledge and tolerance prevail. We 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 enthusiastically pursues its artistic and public service goals; to enrich, to educate, to entertain, to initiate cultural dialogue and celebrate cinematic excellence in any language. Our principles objectives encompass promoting film to an ever-widening audience as a powerful medium that inspires creativity, encourages introspection and compels exploration. The Society aims for a leadership role in providing an extensive forum for multicultural exchange in the Coachella Valley and beyond.
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
Now entering its 25th year, the Palm Springs International Film Festival reaches this milestone as one of the most prestigious and well-attended film festivals in the country. The Festival has long secured its place on the world stage as the portal for the very best in world cinema, welcoming more than 136,000 enthusiastic and sophisticated filmgoers to Palm Springs every January.
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.
PSIFF has also evolved into one of the most highly anticipated preludes to the Oscars®. The Festival’s glamorous centerpiece, the black-tie Awards Gala, 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.
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Now entering its 19th 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.
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 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.
Over 400 filmmakers attend annually to gain exposure for their films and to participate in the ShortFest Forums, two and a half 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.
Membership
The Palm Springs International Film Society lends its name to our 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 our Educational and Community Outreach Programs and a portion of your annual fee is tax-deductible. To learn about member benefits and join the Film Society click here.
Educational and Community Outreach Programs
We’ve worked hard to secure our place in the global film arena, while putting equal effort into our 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 our place in the Coachella Valley. Learn more and join us in bringing them to an ever-widening audience by clicking here.