World’s cinema arrives in Palm Springs

The 15th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, opening tonight with a screening of Tim Burton’s “Big Fish,” represents one-stop shopping for Oscar enthusiasts and voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Of the 56 films under consideration to be best foreign language film nominees, 52 will be screened at the 12-day event, including “Osama” (Afghanistan), “Divine Intervention” (Palestine), “The Barbarian Invasions” (Canada) and “In the Mind of a Killer” (Mexico).

Many of these films, also competing for the festival’s International Critic’s Prize, will screen just before the Academy’s deadline for nominating ballots (Jan. 17 at 5 p.m.), making it the last, best chance for many Oscar hopefuls to be seen.

Short films that are Academy contenders are on the “Oscar Buzz Shorts” bill this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. In addition, 14 documentaries and foreign language animated films, including “Capturing the Friedmans,” “The Fog of War” and “The Triplets of Belleville,” will screen as part of the “Oscar Buzz” category.

Single tickets are $9 or $10. Call (800) 898-7256 or visit: www.psfilmfest.org.