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Steven Spielberg's Oscar-contender 'The Post' will open Palm Springs film festival

Bruce Fessier
Palm Springs Desert Sun

“The Post,” a Washington, D.C., journalism drama that has been selected Best Film of 2017 by the National Board of Review, will be the Opening Night Film of the Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 at the Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School.

"The Post," starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, will be the Opening Nigh Film of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The Steven Spielberg film, focusing on the reporting of a massive government cover-up based on secret  documents known as the Pentagon Papers, is set for limited release Dec. 22 and general release Jan. 12 – two days before the Golden Globe Awards. It’s been nominated for six Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor and Best Actress for Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.

The festival will close Jan. 14 with the Adam Rifkin film, “The Last Movie Star,” featuring Burt Reynolds as an aging screen icon who gets lured into accepting an award at a rinky-dink film festival in Nashville. The film, formerly titled “Dog Years,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April and won the Chairman’s Award for Rifkin at the San Diego International Film Festival in October.

The announcements were made as part of the unveiling of the entire festival schedule at psfilmfest.org.

The lineup will include such popular programs as Talking Pictures, Books to Screen, Special Presentations, Awards Buzz, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters and True Stories. It will include all nine films on the Shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Awards nominations, announced Thursday. Screenings and special programs take place at venues throughout Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

“I couldn't be happier with the selection of films this year,” Artistic Director Michael Lerman said in a statement. “In a program that includes all of the shortlisted Foreign Language Oscar nominees, a stellar New Voices New Visions selection, an embarrassment of riches from Argentina that demanded to be highlighted, and an incredible list of attending talent, there's plenty to get excited about. I'm so proud of our team for putting it all together." 

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Even though the Opening Night Film doesn’t screen until 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, following red carpet arrivals, the festival will launch Jan. 2 with its Film Awards Gala. Five high-profile English-language films will be screened the following day, including “Darkest Hour,” starring gala honoree Gary Oldman, “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri,” featuring gala honoree Sam Rockwell, and “I, Tonya,” featuring gala honoree Allison Janney.

Also screening will be the world premiere of “Cover Versions,” written and directed by Todd Berger, and “Polka King,” produced by part-time Palm Springs resident David Permut and starring Jack Black.

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“Polka King” premiered at last year’s Sundance International Film Festival and was purchased by Netflix, which will launch it for general viewing on Jan. 12. “Cover Versions” also will be part of the Local Spotlight program highlighting films from the Coachella Valley.

“Polka King” also is included in a program of Special Presentations. It will feature special guests including director/co-writer Maya Forbes and actors Black, Jenny Slate and Jacki Weaver. Other films and guests in that program are:

“In the Fade,” a German Oscar submission scored by Palm Desert native Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age with appearances by director Fatih Akin and actress Diane Kruger

“Nostalgia,” with director Mark Pellington and actor Jon Hamm

“Phantom Thread,” with director Paul Thomas Anderson

Also slated Jan. 3 is the Variety Brunch at the Parker Palm Springs Resort. Writer Aaron Sorkin, who is nominated for a Golden Globe for his directorial debut on “Molly’s Game,” will be presented the Variety Creative Impact in Screenwriting Award and Patty Jenkins, director of “Wonder Woman,” will receive Variety’s Creative Impact in Directing Award.

Variety also will present awards to its 10 Directors to Watch at that brunch. Then the festival will screen three films by those honorees: “Bodied” (U.S.), by Joseph Kahn; “Custody” (France), by Xavier Legrand; and “Foxtrot” (Israel/Germany/France/ Switzerland), by Samuel Maoz.

The Talking Pictures programs, which includes screenings with in-depth discussions with their directors, writers and actors, will include appearances by Oldman, Rockwell and the following films and guests:

“An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” with the film's subject, former Vice President Al Gore, and directors Bonnie Cohen and John Shenk

 “BPM (Beats Per Minute)” with director Robin Campillo

“The Square” with director Ruben Östlund

“Stronger" with actress Tatiana Maslany

“Thelma” with director Joachim Trier.

Another program with live appearances is Books to Screen, tackling the challenges of bringing the written word to the silver screen. Those include:

“Call Me by Your Name,” guests to be determined

“The Disaster Artist,” with screenwriters Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter and author Greg Sestero

“Last Flag Flying,” with author Darryl Ponicsan

“The Lost City of Z,” with director/writer James Gray

The festival will screen 180 films from 77 countries, including 39 premieres. Those include four world, 12 North American and 23 U.S. premieres. The other world premieres include:

“Beyond the Opposite Sex" (U.S.), by Emily Abt and Bruce Hensel

“Nostalgia" (US), Director Mark Pellington with Jon Hamm, Catherine Keener, Ellen Burstyn, Bruce Dern, Amber Tamblyn, Nick Offerman and Patton Oswalt

“On Borrowed Time” (United Arab Emirates), by Yasir Al Yasiri

The North American premieres are:

“Beyond the Clouds” (India), by Majid Majidi

“Finding Your Feet (UK), Director Richard Loncraine

“The Gold Seekers” (Paraguay), by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schémbori

“Happy Birthday” (Greece/France/Cyprus/Germany), by Christos Georgiou

“Holy Camp” (Spain), by Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo

“A Letter to the President” (Afghanistan), by Roya Sadat

“Love and Shukla” (India), by Siddartha Jatla

“Maze” (Ireland/UK/Sweden/Germany), by Stephen Burke

“Rey's Education” (Argentina/Spain), by Santiago Esteves

“Silk Road” (Netherlands), by Mark de Cloe

“Stealing Rodin” (Chile/France), by Cristóbal Valenzuela Berríos

“The Train of Salt and Sugar” (Mozambique/Brazil/Portugal), by Licínio Azevedo

The U.S. premieres are:

“Allure” (Canada), by Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez with Evan Rachel Wood and Denis O’Hare

“Angels Wear White” (China/France), by Vivian Qu

“Barefoot” (Czech Republic/Slovak Republic/Denmark), by Jan Svěrák

“Directions” (Bulgaria/Germany/Macedonia), by Stephan Komandarev

“Eye on Juliet” (Canada/France/Morocco), by Kim Nguyen

“The Future Ahead” (Argentina), by Constanza Novick

“The Gospel According to André” (U.S.), by Kate Novack

“Guilty Men” (Colombia), by Iván D. Gaona

“The House by the Sea” (France), by Robert Guédiguian

“The Journey” (Iraq/UK/France/Qatar/Netherlands), by Mohamed Al-Daradji

“Jupiter’s Moon” (Hungary/Germany), by Kornél Mundruczó

“Longing” (Israel), by Savi Gabizon

“Makala” (France), by Emmanuel Gras

“The Motive” (Spain/Mexico), by Manuel Martín Cuenca

“My Days of Mercy” (U.S./UK), by Tali Shalom-Ezer

“The Prime Minister” (Belgium), by Erik Van Looy

“The Royal Hibiscus Hotel” (Nigeria), by Ishaya Bako

“So Help Me God” (Belgium/France), by Jean Libon and Yves Hinant

“The Space Between” (Australia/Italy), by Ruth Borgobello

“Suleiman Mountain” (Kyrgyzstan/Russia), by Elizaveta Stishova

“The Summit” (Argentina/Spain/France), by Santiago Mitre

“The Third Murder” (Japan), by Hirokazu Kore-eda

“Three Peaks” (Germany/Italy), by Jan Zabeil

The festival is screening 45 of the 92 official submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar as part of the Awards Buzz section. A special jury of international film critics from the FIPRESCI organization will review those films for consideration of awards for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, Best Actor and Best Actress. 

Those 45 films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

“A Letter to the President” (Afghanistan), by Roya Sadat

“Zama” (Argentina), by Lucrecia Martel

“Yeva" (Armenia), by Anahid Abad

“The Space Between” (Australia), by Ruth Borgobello

“Happy End” (Austria), by Michael Haneke

“Racer and the Jailbird” (Belgium), by Michaël R. Roskam

“Men Don’t Cry” (Bosnia), by Alen Drljevic

“First They Killed My Father” (Cambodia), by Angelina Jolie

“Hochelaga, Land of Souls” (Canada), by François Girard

“A Fantastic Woman” (Chile), by Sebastián Lelio

“Guilty Men” (Colombia), by Iván D. Gaona

“Ice Mother” (Czech Republic), by Bohdan Sláma

“You Disappear” (Denmark), by Peter Schønau Fog

“Woodpeckers” (Dominican Republic), by José María Cabral

“Tom of Finland” (Finland), Dome Karukoski

“BPM” (Beats Per Minute) (France), by Robin Campillo

“In the Fade” (Germany), by Fatih Akin

“Amerika Square” (Greece), by Yannis Sakaridis

“On Body and Soul” (Hungary), by Ildikó Enyedi

“Under the Tree” (Iceland), by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson

“Newton” (India), by Amit V Masurkar

“Foxtrot” (Israel), by Samuel Maoz

“A Ciambra” (Italy), by Jonas Carpignano

“Her Love Boils Bathwater” (Japan), by Ryôta Nakano

“The Insult” (Lebanon), Ziad Doueiri

“Barrage” (Luxembourg), by Laura Schroeder

“Tempestad” (Mexico), by Tatiana Huezo

“The Train of Salt and Sugar” (Mozambique), Licínio Azevedo

“One Thousand Ropes” (New Zealand), by Tusi Tamasese

“Thelma” (Norway), by Joachim Trier

“Wajib” (Palestine), by Annemarie Jacir

“The Gold Seekers” (Paraguay), by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schémbori

“Birdshot” (Philippines), by Mikhail Red

“Spoor” (Poland), by Agnieszka Holland

“Loveless” (Russia), by Andrey Zvyagintsev

“Félicité" (Senegal), by Alain Gomis

“Pop Aye” (Singapore), by Kirsten Tan

“The Line” (Slovak Republic), by Peter Bebjak

“The Miner” (Slovenia), by Hanna Slak

“The Wound” (South Africa), by John Trengove

“A Taxi Driver” (South Korea), by Jang Hoon

“Summer 1993” (Spain), by Carla Simón

“The Square” (Sweden), by Ruben Östlund

“The Divine Order” (Switzerland), by Petra Volpe

“Ayla - The Daughter of War” (Turkey), by Can Ulkay

Other sections include:

Cine Latino:

The festival will showcase Ibero-American films eligible for a Cine Latino Award. The festival’s country focus is on Argentina. Films eligible for the award include:

“April’s Daughter” (Mexico), by Michel Franco

“Constructing Albert” (Spain/Estonia), by Laura Collado and Jim Loomis (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“The Desert Bride” (Argentina/Chile), by Cecilia Atán and Valeria Pivato

“A Fantastic Woman” (Chile, Germany, Spain, US), by Sebastián Lelio

“The Future Ahead” (Argentina), by Constanza Novick

“The Gold Seekers” (Paraguay), by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schémbori

“Good Manners” (Brazil/France), by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra

“Guilty Men” (Colombia), by Iván D. Gaona

“Holy Camp” (Spain), by Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo

“Hunting Season” (Argentina/U.S./Germany/France/Qatar), by Natalia Garagiola

“Killing Jesús” (Colombia/Argentina), by Laura Mora

“Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle” (Spain), by Gustavo Salmerón

“The Motive” (Spain/Mexico), by Manuel Martín Cuenca

“Rey's Education” (Argentina/Spain), by Santiago Esteves

“A Sort of Family” (Argentina/Brazil/France/Poland), by Diego Lerman

“Stealing Rodin” (Chile/France), by Cristóbal Valenzuela Berríos

“Summer 1993” (Spain), by Carla Simón

“The Summit” (Argentina/Spain/France), by Santiago Mitre

“Tempestad” (Mexico), by Tatiana Huezo

“Two Irenes” (Brazil), by Fabio Meira

“Vazante” (Brazil/Portugal), Director Daniela Thomas

“Veronica” (Spain), by Paco Plaza

“Woodpeckers” (Dominican Republic), by José María Cabral

“Zama” (Argentina/Spain/France), by Lucrecia Martel

Modern Masters

The Modern Masters section features seven films from international directors who set the standards for contemporary cinema. They include:

“The Brawler” (India), by Anurag Kashyap

“Happy End” (Austria/France/Germany), by Michael Haneke

“Let the Sunshine In” (France), by Claire Denis

“Spoor” (Poland/Germany/Czech Republic/Sweden/Slovak Republic), by Agnieszka Holland

“The Third Murder” (Japan), by Hirokazu Kore-eda

“The Workshop” (France), by Laurent Cantet

“Youth” (China), byr Feng Xiaogang

New Voices, New Visions

The New Voices New Visions competition showcases 10 films from emerging international directors bringing their first or second narrative features to the festival. The winner is selected by a jury of festival programmers and U.S. distributors. Films include:

“Angels Wear White” (China/France), by Vivian Qu

“Ava” (France), by Léa Mysius

“The Charmer” (Denmark), by Milad Alami

“The Gold Seekers” (Paraguay), by Juan Carlos Maneglia, Tana Schémbori

“Killing Jesús" (Colombia/Argentina), by Laura Mora

“Mobile Homes” (Canada/France), by Vladimir de Fontenay

“No Date, No Signature” (Iran), by Vahid Jalilvand

“On Borrowed Time” (United Arab Emirates), by Yasir Al Yasiri

“One Thousand Ropes” (New Zealand), by Tusi Tamasese

“Suleiman Mountain” (Kyrgyzstan/Russia), by Elizaveta Stishova

“Thoroughbreds” (U.S.), by Cory Finley

“Three Peaks” (Germany/Italy), by Jan Zabeil

True Stories

This section features documentaries on topics including music, sports, fashion and Hollywood.

“Beyond the Opposite Sex” (U.S.), by Emily Abt, Bruce Hensel

“Brimstone & Glory” (U.S./Mexico), by Viktor Jakovleski (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“The Cage Fighter” (U.S.), by Jeff Unay (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“The China Hustle” (U.S.), by Jed Rothstein

“Itzhak” (U.S./Israel), by Alison Chernick

“Jane” (U.S.),by Brett Morgen

“Liyana” (Swaziland/U.S./Qatar), by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle” (Spain), by Gustavo Salmerón (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Love, Cecil” (U.S.), by Lisa Immordino Vreeland (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Love Means Zero” (U.S.), by Jason Kohn (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Makala” (France), by Emmanuel Gras

“Mankiller” (U.S.), by Valerie Red-Horse Mohl (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End” (U.S.), by Pablo Bryant

“Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” (Canada), by Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana

“Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” (U.S.), by Sam Pollard

“Skid Row Marathon” (U.S.), by Mark Hayes

“So Help Me God” (Belgium/France), by Jean Libon, Yves Hinant (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

“Stealing Rodin” (Chile/France), by Cristóbal Valenzuela Berríos

“Stumped” (U.S.), by Robin Berghaus

“This is Congo” (Democratic Republic of Congo/U.S./Canada/Qatar), by Daniel McCabe

“The Workers Cup” (UK), by Adam Sobel (also in competition for the Schlesinger Award)

World Cinema Now

This section offers a variety of perspectives and styles from the best in international cinema. Titles include:

“Borg vs. McEnroe" (Sweden/Denmark/Finland), by Janus Metz, starring Shia LaBeouf and Stellan Skarsgård

“Finding Your Feet” (UK) by Richard Loncraine, starring Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall and David Hayman

“I Am Not a Witch” (UK/France), by Rungano Nyoni and starring Juliette Grandmont and Emily Morgan

“I, Tonya" (U.S.), directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney

“Lean on Pete” (U.S./UK), directed by Andrew Haigh and starring Charlie Plummer, Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny and Travis Fimmel

“Sweet Country” (Australia), directed by Warwick Thornton and starring Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey

“The Leisure Seeker” (Italy/France), directed by Paolo Virzì and starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.

The festival’s first Gay!La His screening will be the U.S. premiere of the documentary “The Gospel According to André” (U.S.), directed by Kate Novack and featuring André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs and Whoopi Goldberg.

There will be an additional Gay!La His screening of “Scotty and The Secret History of Hollywood” (U.S.), directed by Matt Trynauer. The Gay!La Hers screening will be the U.S. Premiere of “My Days of Mercy” (U.S./UK), directed by Tali Shalom-Ezer and starring Ellen Page and Kate Mara.

The festival, one of the three largest in North America, is expected to draw roughly 135,000 people. For ticket information, call (760) 778-8979 or visit psfilmfest.org.