It’s like caramel and salt, the way the Palm Springs International Film Festival pairs the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with sometimes obscure foreign film offerings. On Friday night, the festival opens with the “The Fencer,” a Finnish production set in 1950s Estonia about a man who starts his life anew as a children’s fencing teacher. On Saturday, the festival will throw a massive fundraising gala that will attract some of Hollywood’s biggest names for what has become an important stop on the annual awards tour.
It’s that unexpectedly exquisite combination of plucky upstarts and major stars that makes the festival unique.
The festival will screen more than 170 films from 60 countries before closing Jan. 11 with the U.S. premiere of the Australian film “Last Cab to Darwin.”
Awards will be given at Saturday night’s gala to Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Michael Fassbender, Brie Larson, Rooney Mara, Tom McCarthy, Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander, Bryan Cranston and “The Big Short” coterie of Steve Carell, Christian Bale and Adam McKay.
“They complement each other perfectly,” said festival director Darryl Macdonald of the star-studded gala and the smaller-scale international films in the festival. “Particularly where our mission is concerned in terms of showcasing the best cinematic achievements of the year.”
There were about 135,000 attendees at last year’s festival, with some 70% coming from outside the region. Organizers say their numbers make it the most highly attended film festival in California and among the most highly attended in the U.S.
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Photos from the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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Saskia Diesing of the Netherlands, director of “Nena.”
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Michal Rogalski of Poland, director of “Summer Solstice,” at a festival workshop.
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Grimur Hakonarson of Iceland, director of “Rams,” at a festival workshop.
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France’s Deniz Ergüven, director pf “Mustang,” at a festival workshop.
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Britain’s Heidi Greensmith, director of “Winter,” at a festival workshop.
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Greece’s Yorgos Zois, director of “Interruption,” at a festival workshop.
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Yared Zeleke of Ethiopia, director of “Lamb,” at a festival workshop.
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Slavek Horak of the Czech Republic, director of “Home Care,” at a festival workshop.
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Klaus Härö of Finland, director of “The Fencer,” at a festival workshop.
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Adriano Valerio of Italy, director of “Banat,” at a festival workshop.
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Paddy Breathnach of Ireland, director of “Viva,” at a festival workshop.
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India’s Raam Reddy, director of “Thithi,” is shown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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Naji Nowar of Jordan, director of “Theeb,” at a festival workshop.
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Raf Reyntjens of Belgium, director of “Paradise Trips,” at a festival workshop.
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Leena Yadav of India, director of “Parched,” attends a festival workshop.
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Director Grimur Hakonardson peers through a sculpture during a tour of the the estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg at Sunnyland Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage.
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Deniz Ergüven and other directors attending this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival tour the historic estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg at Sunnyland Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage.
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Directors attending this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival tour the historic estate of Walter and Leonore Annenberg at Sunnyland Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage.
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Director Jack Pettibone Riccobono, from left, executive producer Chris Eyre, subject Rob Brown and producer Shane Slattery-Quintanilla before the screening of their documentary “The Seventh Fire” at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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Rob Brown, subject of director Jack Pettibone Riccobono’s documentary “The Seventh Fire,” enters the Palm Canyon Theatre before the screening of the film at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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PALM SPRINGS, CA--JANUARY 03, 2016-- Director Charlie Kaugman, left and Actor Jack Black are photographed before the start of the Variety magazine luncheon, at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival, held at at the Parker Palm Springs hotel, in Palm Springs, CA, Jan. 03, 2016. Black presented Kaufman with the Variety Creative Impact in Directing Award presented by Mercedes-Benz. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Peter Landesman, left, and Will Smith before participating in a panel discussion with Dr. Bennet Omalu after a screening of “Concussion.”
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Laszlo Nemes, right, director of “Son of Saul,” speaks to media before the start of the Variety magazine luncheon, where he was recognized as one of “10 Directors to Watch.”
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Actor Jack Black gives the photographers a different angle to shoot before the start of the Variety magazine luncheon.
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Actors Jada Pinkett Smith, left, and husband Will Smith before the start of the Variety magazine luncheon, where Will Smith was to be presented with the Variety Creative Impact in Acting Award.
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“Concussion” director Peter Landesman, left, star Will Smith and the film’s subject Dr. Bennett Omalu at the Variety magazine luncheon.
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Actress Jada Pinkett Smith
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Denis Gamze Erguven, director of “Mustang,” is one of Variety magazine’s “10 Directors to Watch.”
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The cool of actor Jack Black on display at the Palm Springs festival.
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Elizabeth Wood, director of “White Girl,” at the Variety magazine luncheon, where she was recognized as one of “10 Directors to Watch.”
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Actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith
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Dr. Bennet Omalu, left, Will Smith and director Peter Landesman conduct a lively panel discussion of their film “Concussion” at the festival.
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Johnny Depp inspects the Desert Palm Achievement Award.
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“Brooklyn” actress Saoirse Ronan with the International Star Award.
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Kate Winslet and Michael Fassbender, International Star Award recipient, backstage.
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Ben Mendelsohn with Spotlight Award winner Rooney Mara.
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Director Tom McCarthy with his Sonny Bono Visionary Award.
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Director Ridley Scott with Cate Blanchett, Desert Palm Achievement Award winner, and Matt Damon, winner of the Chairman’s Award, backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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“Room” actress Brie Larson with the Breakthrough Performance Award.
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Bryan Cranston with the Spotlight Award, presented to him by Helen Mirren for his work on “Trumbo.”
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Actors Christian Bale, left, Steve Carell, director Adam McKay, Jeremy Strong and Finn Wittrock with the Ensemble Performance Award for “The Big Short” backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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“Spotlight” duo Michael Keaton, left, and director Tom McCarthy backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala. Keaton presented McCarthy the Sonny Bono Visionary Award.
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“The Martian” actor Matt Damon, right, alongside director and presenter Ridley Scott with the Chairman’s Award backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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Kate Winslet with “Steve Jobs” star Michael Fassbender, International Star Award recipient, backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala held at at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
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“Carol” actress Cate Blanchett with the Desert Palm Achievement Award backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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“The Danish Girl” actress Alicia Vikander with the Rising Star Award.
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“Brooklyn” actress Saoirse Ronan, left, with “Carol” actress Cate Blanchett, winner of the Desert Palm Achievement Award.
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Johnny Depp shows the world his Desert Palm Achievement Award.
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Inside the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, which was held at at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
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Actress Helen Mirren on the red carpet of the 2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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Actors Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp
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Actresses Amber Heard and Alicia Vikander backstage after Heard presented Vikander with the Rising Star Award.
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“Trumbo” actors Bryan Cranston and Hellen Mirren backstage after Cranston was presented with the Spotlight Award.
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Actor Paul Dano
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“Room” actress Brie Larsen
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Alicia Vikander
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Alicia Vikander
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Jacob Tremblay from the film “Room.”
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Actor Christian Bale and Sibi Blazic
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Actors Saoirse Ronan and Paul Dano
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“Carol” actress Cate Blanchett is photographed on the red carpet.
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“Black Mass” director Scott Cooper with his movie’s star Johnny Depp, winner of the Desert Palm Achievement Award.
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Director Ridley Scott and actress Cate Blanchett
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Director Adam McKay, left, Steve Carell and Jeremy Strong
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San Antonio artist Maria Anita, left, takes pictures of movie fans holding her celebrity paintings outside the Palm Springs Convention Center.
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“Room” actress Brie Larsen
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Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
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“Carol” actress Rooney Mara
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Producer Kai Nordberg, left, and director Klaus Härö greet movie fans at a party after the premiere of Härö’s film “The Fencer.”
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Actor Johnny Depp, on hand to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, signs autographs before walking the red carpet.
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“Brooklyn” actress Saoirse Ronan signs autographs. She received the International Star Award.
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“Trumbo” actor Bryan Cranston signs autographs.
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“Carol” actresses Cate Blanchett, right, and Rooney Mara, arrive.
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Attendees pause to take pictures of the red carpet arrivals.
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Movie fans passed through security, then line up with hopes of seeing celebrity arrivals.
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“The Martian” actor Matt Damon signs autographs.
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A movie fan attends a party following the opening night premiere of director Klaus HŠrš fil, “The Fencer” at the 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival.
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“Steve Jobs” actor Michael Fassbender signs autographs and takes selfies.
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Actor Christian Bale signs autographs.
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“The Big Short” actor Steve Carell signs autographs.
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Kate Winslet backstage at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
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Security outside the Palm Springs Convention Center before the start of the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs.
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Security outside the Palm Springs Convention Center before the start of the gala.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) “They turn people away from the most obscure foreign films,” said longtime festival attendee and critic David Ansen, who’s in his first year as lead programmer with the festival. “It’s wonderful to see. People are hungry for it.
“Part of the draw is Palm Springs itself, but obviously these people are not coming to lie by the pool. Because they are going to movie after movie in the middle of the day.”
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Titles playing the festival that have generated excitement around the circuit include “February,” with Kiernan Shipka and Emma Roberts; “Louder Than Bombs,” with Jesse Eisenberg and Isabelle Huppert; “Men & Chicken” with Mads Mikkelsen; “Hello, My Name Is Doris” with Sally Field; director Karyn Kusama’s “The Invitation” and Trey Edward Shults’ “Krisha.”
The festival’s popular “Talking Pictures” section includes a film screening followed by a conversation with stars and/or filmmakers. This year’s lineup includes “Concussion” and Will Smith, “The Martian” with Matt Damon and Ridley Scott, “Grandma” with Lily Tomlin, and the documentary “Amy” with Asif Kapadia and Nick Shymansky.
Screening as part of the “Modern Masters” section will be recent films by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jacques Audiard, Barbara Kopple, Jia Zhangke, Arnaud Desplechin, Terence Davies, Gillian Armstrong and others.
The festival places special emphasis in its programming of foreign language filmmaking. This year, 40 of the 80 films submitted for the foreign language Academy Award will screen, including all of the titles recently announced to go forward on a shortlist of nine. Directors of those films are scheduled to appear Wednesday at a festival event.
“It’s a very important section to us,” said Helen du Toit, the festival’s artistic director. “It’s a part of the Academy Awards that doesn’t get as much airtime as the films with big American stars, for obvious reasons, but for us it’s the most exciting part of the Academy Awards.”
The opening night film, “The Fencer,” is director Klaus Härö’s fifth feature, and his fourth to be selected to represent Finland at the Oscars. Based on true events, “The Fencer” is the story of Endel Nelis, who left Russia to settle in Estonia where he founded a fencing school and would become a de facto parent to many of his young students.
The film has been nominated for a Golden Globe and made it through on the academy’s shortlist. The wave of local support following this recent surge in awards-season recognition has for Härö only highlighted how the international spotlight for him and his film also shines on all Finnish filmmakers.
“If you have any success in this game,” Härö said recently from his home in the Finnish city of Porvoo, “it means good things for this small, struggling industry.”
Perhaps drawing from both sides of the festival is the documentary “The Seventh Fire.” Directed by Jack Pettibone Riccobono, it tells the story of Rob Brown, a Native American gang leader on a reservation in Minnesota who comes to a personal reckoning for his actions. Among the film’s executive producers are Chris Eyre, Terrence Malick and Natalie Portman.
“It’s important to me to use my experience in the industry to support strong creative work at every level,” said Portman, who received an award at the 2011 festival, via email. “I want to make sure ‘The Seventh Fire’ reaches the widest audience possible because I think it’s an important story told with real beauty and power.”
But it’s not all about the Oscars. Showing foreign language films that are no longer competing for the Oscar, the festival still provides a valuable showcase.
“Filmgoers here have a natural inclination to want to see the films that are considered ‘the best’ of their countries of origin in any given year,” said Macdonald, “so there’s a keen interest in seeing as many of the films in that section as possible, rather than just focusing on the nine films on the [academy] shortlist.”
The Oscar entry from the Czech Republic, “Home Care,” is the debut feature film from writer-director Slavek Horak. Wry and bittersweet, the story of a home-care nurse and her family is based in part on Horak’s own mother and father and was shot in his parents’ house.
Besides being part of the “Awards Buzz” lineup of academy foreign language submissions, the film is also showing as part of the “New Voice/New Visions” competition, which features a jury made up of executives from film distribution companies. So even though the film did not make the academy shortlist and is without a U.S. distributor, the appearance in Palm Springs may not be the end of its run.
“Of course we were hoping for the shortlist,” said Horak. “We had our hopes up, even if it didn’t work out in the end. At least it reminded me that it’s all about the work and not about the awards. Not being shortlisted means that it’s now fun to go to festivals until I get back to work and write another one.”
Also among the 12 films in the “New Voices/New Visions” section are “Five Nights in Maine,” directed by Maris Curran and starring David Oyelowo; the Greek film “Interruption,” directed by Yorgos Zois; and the Indian film “Thithi,” directed by Raam Reddy.
The mix of low-key multi-generational family story with light comedy in “Thithi” is distinct from the splashier filmmaking more typically thought of as coming from India. The film, which won two prizes when it had its premiere at last year’s Locarno International Film Festival, is the first feature from the 26-year-old Reddy.
Citing the American TV show “The Wire” and German-Turkish filmmaker Fatih Akin as influences, Reddy hopes his film will expand ideas of what Indian cinema can look and feel like for international audiences.
“I’m a little bit frustrated by the one kind of cinema a country as kaleidoscopic as India is producing,” he said by phone from Mumbai. “Everyone has gotten used to the template, and it’s a stylistic choice, but just one from a million possible choices. In India, there are a million stories that could be told.”
With its mix of Hollywood star power and deep support for international filmmaking, the Palm Springs International Film Festival may be just the place for a filmmakers like Reddy, Horak and Härö to spread the word.
As Du Toit added, “We often say, if you can’t afford to travel, come here and see the world.”
mark.olsen@latimes.com
Twitter: @IndieFocus
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