The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Denis Villeneuve will receive the Visionary Award for Dune: Part Two. The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2025, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-13, 2025. The event will be presented by Silvercrest and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.

“Denis Villeneuve has once again pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling with Dune: Part Two. His visionary direction and unparalleled attention to detail have not only brought Frank Herbert's epic saga to life but also set a new standard for what film can achieve,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “A true visual masterpiece, Villeneuve's work transcends entertainment, immersing audiences in a universe where every frame is a testament to his artistry and innovation. It is our honor to present Denis Villeneuve with the Visionary Award.”

The Visionary Award is presented to a filmmaker who breaks boundaries in the art of cinema. In the years that they were honored with the Visionary Award, Alfonso Cuarón (Roma) and Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) received the Academy Award for Best Director; Richard Linklater (Boyhood), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), and Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) went on to receive Academy Award nominations for Best Director. All of these directors’ films received Best Picture Academy Award nominations, with The Artist and Spotlight receiving the Best Picture Award.

Villeneuve joins this year’s announced honorees: Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor); Timothée Chalamet (Chairman’s Award); Conclave (Ensemble Performance Award) presented to actors Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Lucian Msamati; Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor); Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor); Ariana Grande (Rising Star Award); Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress); Nicole Kidman (International Star Award); Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress); and Emilia Pérez (Vanguard Award) presented to director Jacques Audiard and actors Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez.

Dune: Part Two, based on the second half of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel, completes the cautionary tale of Paul Atreides’ swift and dangerous rise to power. Vengeance, prophecy, fervent followers and political manipulation ultimately lead Paul to abandon the formidable pull of love and his conscience to accept a fate he knows will destroy so much.

In this epic conclusion, internationally acclaimed writer-director Denis Villeneuve dives deep into the psychological lure of power while expanding the story’s scope and scale. Villeneuve’s take on what many consider an unadaptable classic delivers a bold and artistic cinematic vision that pushes the boundaries of immersive storytelling.

The film stars a decorated international ensemble of Academy Award® nominees and winners, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem, who bring Villeneuve’s compelling characters to life.

Villeneuve also reunites with many of his renowned, award-winning collaborators from the first film to execute his unique vision, including co-writer Jon Spaihts, cinematographer Greig Fraser, editor Joe Walker, costume designer Jacqueline West, production designer

Conversations to include guests from films Babygirl, A Real Pain, Sing Sing, and Wicked;

Emilia Pérez and Maria to be presented by Women In Motion

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) has announced the lineup for its Talking Pictures program, featuring in-depth discussions with actors being honored at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. This year’s program includes Babygirl with Nicole Kidman; Emilia Pérez with director Jacques Audiard as well as actors Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez; Maria with Angelina Jolie; A Real Pain with Jesse Eisenberg; Sing Sing with Colman Domingo; and Wicked with Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande, and John M. Chu. The Emilia Peréz and Maria Talking Pictures will be presented by Women In Motion, a Kering program to shine a light on women in arts and culture. The schedule is listed below along with attending guests.

Thursday, January 2

3:30 p.m.

A Real Pain at Annenberg Theater. Q&A following screening with actor, director, producer and screenwriter Jesse Eisenberg.

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Directed and written by Jesse Eisenberg, the film stars Eisenberg alongside Culkin with a cast rounded out by Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.

Friday, January 3

10:00 a.m.

Sing Sing at Palm Springs Cultural Center (Camelot Theatres). Q&A following screening with actor Colman Domingo.

Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including wary newcomer (Clarence Maclin), in this stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors. Directed by Greg Kwedar, Domingo also executive produced the film.

10:30 a.m.

Babygirl at Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School. Q&A following screening with actress Nicole Kidman and director Halina Reijn.

In Babygirl, Romy, played by Kidman, is a high-powered CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. As a polished CEO, a mother and wife living in New York City, Romy lives in a world of careful control, tight scheduling, and an all-too-keen awareness of how she’s perceived at the heights of a male-dominated field. In her own long-term marriage, she has also never truly found pleasure with her sweet, caring, and artistically driven husband. As Romy attempts to hold together her gilded persona, she is quickly undone after she meets Samuel. The film also stars Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, and Sophie Wilde.

11:00 a.m.

Maria at Annenberg Theater. Q&A following screening with actress Angelina Jolie. 

From director Pablo Larraín, Maria stars Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. Maria reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life

The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Angelina Jolie is the recipient of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, for Pablo Larraín's Maria. The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2025, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-13, 2025. The event will be presented by Silvercrest and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight. 

"Maria presents the iconic Angelina Jolie in the role of a lifetime as she embodies Maria Callas, the world-renowned opera legend. Jolie’s extraordinary portrayal captures the heart and complexity of an artist whose life was as captivating as her music," said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. "In honor of her mesmerizing transformation into this groundbreaking yet tragic figure, we are thrilled to present Angelina Jolie with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress.” 

Jolie joins this year’s previously announced honorees: Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Conclave (Ensemble Performance Award) presented to actors Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Lucian Msamati; Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor); Nicole Kidman (International Star Award); Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award); and Emilia Pérez (Vanguard Award) presented to director Jacques Audiard and actors Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez.  

Past winners of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress include last year’s recipient Emma Stone who went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Marion Cotillard, Viola Davis, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron and Renée Zellweger. 

From director Pablo Larraín, Maria, stars Academy Award winner, Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. Maria reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life. The film also features Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Stephen Ashfield, with Valeria Golino and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Mandrax. Maria releases in select theaters on November 27, 2024 and on Netflix on December 11, 2024.  

Angelina Jolie is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, and producer, with film credits including Walt Disney Pictures’ Maleficent series, Salt, and Girl, Interrupted. Jolie directed, produced and co-wrote the critically acclaimed feature First They Killed My Father and the upcoming Without Blood; additionally, she directed the Oscar®-nominated drama Unbroken. She is a Tony Award-winning producer on the acclaimed new Broadway musical The Outsiders.  

With over 20 years working as a humanitarian focusing on work with refugees and human rights, Jolie also champions local leadership in environmental conservation and has funded schools, health and education initiatives globally. Additionally, she is founder of the Maddox Foundation, an integrated development program headquartered in Cambodia, with a focus on conservation, agriculture, education and economic development projects in the area. She is the founder of Atelier Jolie, a hub f

97TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 10 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED

The Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) will return December 3-7, 2025 offering an expanded lineup of films, lively Q&A sessions, engaging Coffee Talks and intimate events for AMPAS members and special guests. These dates solidify SVFF as a pivotal destination for award-season contenders and perfectly timed before Academy Award shortlist voting begins.

The move follows the success of the Sun Valley Film Festival Winter Screening Series held December 5-8, 2024. The weekend featured critically acclaimed films, Coffee Talks, and intimate receptions and dinners. The event recognized Demi Moore with the Vision Award and Pamela Anderson and Gia Coppola with the Pioneer Award presented by Variety, and Porcelain War with the Impact Award. Screenings included The Last Showgirl, The Substance, Porcelain War, Blink, The Swim Lesson and a curated series of shorts from The New Yorker.

The Substance went on to receive five Golden Globe and seven Critics Choice Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress for Moore. Anderson went on to receive a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination and Porcelain War received a Producers Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. The following films were also part of the Academy Awards shortlist: Porcelain War (Documentary Feature), I am Not a Robot (Live Action Short Film), Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr (Documentary Short Film) and A Swim Lesson (Documentary Short Film).

"The Sun Valley Film Festival continues to grow as a vital platform for filmmakers and a key stop for awards-season contenders, which we showcased this year with our selection of films and honorees including Demi Moore and Pamela Anderson,” said Teddy Grennan, Executive Director of Sun Valley Film Festival. “By anchoring the festival in December, we’re not just celebrating great storytelling but creating meaningful connections between filmmakers and audiences at a pivotal moment in the industry’s calendar."

The five day festival in 2025 will continue its partnership with Deadline at the Vision Award dinner and Variety will present the Pioneer Award. The Screenwriters Lab will be back with the High Scribe award and the winner of the High Scribe Competition invited to return as a Writer-In-Residence at the historic Ernest and Mary Hemingway House. The Sun Valley JR Film Competition which highlights the work of high school students, will continue where finalist films are screened in the festival and judged by industry professionals. The festival’s 1 Potato Initiative will return to support emerging filmmakers and incentivize filmmaking in the state of Idaho. The winning script will receive $5,000 in funds towards shooting their film on location in the state. Submissions open on April 28 at Film Freeway.

"Our mission has always been to inspire and elevate creative voices, and the 2025 festival will build on that legacy,” said Candice Pate, Director of Sun Valley Film Festival. “As we expand programming across five days to feature some of the best of awards season contenders, we are committed to continuing to support emerging talent, especially with the Screenwriters Lab, 1 Potato Initiative and JR Film Competition. Sun Valley in December is poised to be an unmissable event for film lovers and creators alike.”

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Pictured:  Ynon Kreiz (Mattel Chairman and CEO), from left, Gal Gadot (Actress/Producer) and Meir Fenigstein (IFF Founder/Executive Director) attend The 36th ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL in Los Angeles Gala Opening Night and Premiere Screening at Saban Theater, on Wednesday, Nov 13th, 2024 in Los Angeles.   PHOTO CREDIT:  Jordan Strauss/JanuaryImages 

The 36th ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL in Los Angeles, the largest showcase for Israeli films in the United States, triumphantly returned after a 2 ½ year absence with sold-out screenings, the most sponsors in its history, and over 7,000 attendees.   The Festival’s Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film was voted to Come Closer, written and directed by Tom Nesher in her feature film directorial debut and Israel’s submission for the Academy Awards’® Best International Film. The Festival’s Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary was given to The Child Within Me, directed by Yaniv Amoday and Eti Aneta and winner of the Ophir Award for Best Documentary Film (Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Award®).  The Festival’s Audience Choice Award for Best Student Film was awarded to Girl NO. 60427, directed by Shulamit Lifshitz, a student at The Ma'aleh School of Film and Television in Jerusalem, and winner of the BAFTA Student Film Award for Best Live Action Film.  The announcement was made by Meir Fenigstein, founder and executive director of the Israel Film Festival.

“Los Angeles audiences thoroughly embraced the return of the Israel Film Festival which had been postponed due to the war in the Middle East.  Residents from Santa Monica and Beverly Hills to the San Fernando valley gathered to be entertained and celebrate Israeli culture, storytelling, its filmmakers and talent both behind and in front of the camera,” said Fenigstein.  “As our hearts ache for so many effected by the war, the sense of community was pervasive as people shared, learned and were reminded of all that Israel has to offer.”

This year the Festival added the Community Partner screening series to its programming.  This included more than 20 exclusive premiere screenings sponsored by leading non-profit Jewish and Israeli organizations in Los Angeles for their respective members.  For the first time, the Festival hosted a panel of Israeli-American producers to discuss the option of co-productions between the U.S. and the Israeli film industries.  This was sponsored by the Israel Cinema Project-Rabinovich Foundation.

During the Festival’s November 13th – 26th run at six theatres located in Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles and Encino, over 40 features, documentaries and student short films from Israel’s top 7 film schools were screened.  Twenty visiting Israeli filmmakers and talent conducted post screening Q&As with audiences.  Actress/producer Gal Gadot awarded the 2024 IFF Industry Leadership Award to Ynon Kreiz, Mattel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who has transformed the company and spearheaded its global blockbuster film, Barbie. The 2024 IFF Lifetime Achievement Award was given to actor/comedian Shaike Levi, an Israeli comedian, singer and actor best known for his role in HaGashash HaHiver, at the Festival’s Closing Night ceremony.

The mission of the ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL is to highlight Israel as the lively and innovative nation that it is as well as to shine a spotl