The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023 - Issue 33

bitefilmfestival A fter a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, the grander Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) opened its doors again in January. The 34th annual film festival highlighted international cinema and in- dependent American films. Some of the world’s talented artists and moving picture creatives gathered to celebrate each other's achievements, showcasing 134 films and 27 premieres, includ- ing 35 International Feature Film Oscar submissions. Every year, PSIFF welcomes over 135,000 attendees to enjoy a variety of film submissions, from feature-length films to docu- mentaries from over 60 countries. This makes it one of North America’s largest film festivals, generously exposing young people to the beautiful world of cinema and offering intern- ships or film programmes in schools. This year's festival introduced a new selection—free, age-ap- propriate screenings for high school students on the weekends. The sessions were free for students who showed their ID and proof of vaccination. Films and documentaries included Anx- ious Nation , which shed light on the widespread effects of the anxiety epidemic in the United States. It sought to extinguish the stigma often associated with mental health and offered sug- gestions on how to treat a national crisis. Butterfly in the Sky went behind the scenes of the revolution- ary long-running public broadcast series Reading Rainbow and chronicled the journey of broadcasters, educators and film- makers, including host LeVar Burton, who believed television could inspire a lifelong love of reading. Lift captured interna- tional ballet dancer Steven Melendez’s return to his humble be- ginnings in the Bronx to mentor and inspire a new generation of young people to follow and attain their dreams. Honouree: Colin Farrell Honouree: Bill Nighy Presenter: Jamie Lee Curtis Presenter: Sally Field Honouree: Michelle Yeoh Honouree: Viola Davis