The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

31st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival bite film review Film Awards Spotlight E very January for the past 31 years the media has flocked to Palm Springs, California for the annual International Film Festival. Imagine twelve billion media impressions worldwide as the year's biggest stars begin the awards season. It is that time of the year when A-listers take over the desert of this southern Californian city where old Hollywood meets new Hollywood. Dating back to before the 1930s, Palm Springs has been a celebrity playground for Hollywood’s A-listers. “At the time, most Hollywood celebrities were under contract in the ‘studio system’ which required that actors remain with- in two hours away in case the studio required their ser- vices,” according to journalist Lydia Kremer. During Palm Springs’ colourful history, it has received countless recog- nitions and was, and still is, highly praised as one of the hottest international destinations. Palm Springs' natural wonders are extraordinary and have been a sought-after location for numerous films and TV shows. Scores of fashion photoshoots, music videos, fea- ture films, and lifestyle TV shows have used Palm Springs as a set-piece. But most importantly, it became a home for the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival that takes place at the Palm Springs Convention Centre. This historic event has drawn the world’s elite film stars since its inception in 1989. Since then, the International Film Festival has become a reliable barometer for predicting the Oscars; as a matter of fact, this year was no exception. As an unwritten rule, the film festival cannot be imagined without a red carpet, designer gowns and tuxedos, extraor- dinary diamonds, countless camera flashes, and the pa- parazzi, sea of fans and of course the world’s brightest and most talented stars together with Palm Springs community leaders arriving at the elegant dinner and awards ceremony to kick off the 2020 award season in the most glamorous way that only Hollywood can create. The main sponsor of the Film Awards Gala was American Express and subsequent major sponsors included AT&T and Entertainment Tonight. Mary Hart, America's famous TV presenter, actress, and producer, once again took the stage as the evening’s host, her 17th year in that position. Honourees have presented with either the John Kennedy ‘The Entertainer’ statue or a Chihuly Glass Sculpture. The 12-day festival screened more than 200 films from 60- plus countries where they honoured actors and directors such as Adam Driver, Charlize Theron, Martin Scorsese, and Renée Zellweger. The three-hour ceremony, which drew almost 2,500 people, and raised more than $2 mil- Giedre Jackyte reviews the star-studded 31st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Award. Images courtesy of image.net