36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Announces Full Lineup, Opening with ‘Better Man’ and Closing with ‘The Penguin Lessons’

The 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) announced that the Festival’s Opening Night film will be Better Man directed by Michael Gracey on Thursday, January 2, and will close with The Penguin Lessons directed by Peter Cattaneo on Sunday, January 12.

The Festival will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres (3 World, 3 International, 15 North American, 15 U.S., and 32 California) from January 2-13, 2025.  The line-up includes 35 of the International Feature Film Oscar ​​submissions along with Talking Pictures, a focus on Spanish films with a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories, World Cinema Now, and more.

The festival will open with Paramount Pictures’ Better Man, based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. The film is uniquely told from Robbie’s perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.  It was co-written, co-produced and directed by Michael Gracey. The film will have a limited release on December 25 and open wide on January 10.

The festival will close with The Penguin Lessons with director Peter Cattaneo in attendance. In The Penguin Lessons, a deliciously wry Steve Coogan teams up with the director of The Full Monty in this irresistible dramedy about a disaffected English schoolteacher in militaristic Argentina, whose life – and those of his spoiled pupils – is transformed when he rescues and adopts an adorable penguin.

Highlights for this year with guests expected to attend include the local spotlight feature Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion with fashion designer Bob Mackie; Drive Back Home with actor Alan Cumming; Group Therapy with comedian London Hughes; Lilly with actress Patricia Clarkson; Millers in Marriage with actor Edward Burns; Reading Lolita in Tehran with actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi and a Family Day screening of Flow with director Gints Zilbalodis. The festival will have three world premiere titles: Bun Tikki with director Faraz Arif Ansari; The Stamp Thief with director Dan Sturman; and You’re No Indian with director Ryan Flynn. 

Talking Pictures screenings will feature several of the Palm Springs International Film Awards honorees. These will include Sing Singwith actor Colman Domingo and Emilia Pérez with director Jacques Audiard and actors Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez. The Festival’s “Dinner and a Movie series” will return, each feature paired alongside a world-class tasting, including the international premiere of Trifole with director Gabriele Fabbro; the California premiere of Shelf Life with director Ian Cheney; and Rioja, The Land of a Thousand Wines with director José Luis López-Linares. Additionally, the Festival will feature a focus on Spanish cinema including films from the festival circuit and a selection of revered classics, such as Holy Mother; I Am Nevenka; Marco, The Invented Truth; Rioja, The Land of A Thousand Wines; The Exiles; The Wailing and more. A spotlight selection of celebrated filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar, will feature The Room Next Door, All About My Mother, Matador, and Talk to Her.  

“Our lineup this year is truly something special. In true PSIFF fashion, it spans genres and crosses borders to bring an exciting mix of films to the Coachella Valley,” shared Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez. “Over the past year, our Palm Springs International Film Festival team has carefully crafted a program that celebrates the art of storytelling, and promises an array of films– from family-friendly films, to thought-provoking and urgent works. It’s all about fostering that dynamic community of film lovers who gather here in Palm Springs each year to experience transformative stories and forge meaningful connections.”

On Friday, January 3, the Palm Springs International Film Awards will take place with honorees including Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performer Award), Jennifer Lopez (Legend & Groundbreaker Award), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award), Nicole Kidman (International Star Award), Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), 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 and Emilia Pérez (Vanguard Award) presented to director Jacques Audiard and actors Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM SUBMISSIONS   

This section is selected by Festival programmers as the strongest entries in this year’s Academy Awards® race and will screen 35 official submissions from the Best International Feature Film category. A special jury of international film critics will review these films to present the FIPRESCI Award for Best International Feature Film of the Year, as well as Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay in this category. On Monday, January 6, The Hollywood Reporter will also host an in-depth panel discussion with some of the directors that have made the Best International Feature Film short-list. 

Armand (Norway), Director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel 

Come Closer (Israel), Director Tom Nesher

Dahomey (Senegal), Director Mati Diop 

Drowning Dry (Lithuania), Director Laurynas Bareiša (North American Premiere) 

Emilia Pérez (France), Director Jacques Audiard 

Everybody Loves Touda (Morocco), Director Nabil Ayouch 

Flow (Latvia), Director Gints Zibalodis

From Ground Zero (Palestine), Anthology featuring 22 contributing directors, see website for full list (California Premiere)

The Girl with The Needle (Denmark), Director Magnus von Horn 

Grand Tour (Portugal), Director Miguel Gomes 

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand), Director Pat Boonnitipat 

The Hungarian Dressmaker (Slovakia), Director Iveta Grófová

I’m Still Here (Brazil), Director Walter Salles

Julie Keeps Quiet (Belgium), Director Leonardo Van Dijl (California Premiere) 

Kill the Jockey (Argentina), Director Luis Ortega (U.S. Premiere) 

Kneecap (Ireland), Director Rich Peppiatt 

La Suprema (Colombia), Director Felipe Holguín Caro 

The Last Journey (Sweden), Director Filip Hammar & Fredrik Wikingsson 

Life (Turkey), Director Zeki Demirkubuz

Lost Ladies (India), Director Kiran Rao 

Meeting With Pol Pot (Cambodia), Director Rithy Panh (North American Premiere)

Memories of a Burning Body (Costa Rica), Director Antonella Sudasassi Furniss (California Premiere) 

My Late Summer (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Director Danis Tanović (U.S. Premiere) 

Old Fox (Taiwan), Director Hsiao Ya-Chuan 

Santosh (United Kingdom), Director Sandhya Suri 

Saturn Return (Spain), Director Isaki Lacuesta, Pol Rodríguez 

The Seed of The Sacred Fig (Germany), Director Mohammad Rasoulof

Shambhala (Nepal), Director Min Bahadur Bham (U.S. Premiere) 

Sujo (Mexico), Director Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez 

Three Kilometers to The End of The World (Romania), Director Emanuel Pârvu (California Premiere) 

Touch (Iceland), Director Baltasar Kormákur

Twilight Of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong), Director Soi Cheang

Universal Language (Canada), Director Matthew Rankin 

Vermiglio (Italy), Director Maura Delpero 

Waves (Czech Republic), Director Jiří Mádl

TALKING PICTURES  

The Talking Pictures program includes in-depth discussions with directors, writers and actors from the year’s top titles. The following film selected for this year’s program with guests attending are:   

Emilia Pérez (France) with director Jacques Audiard and actors Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez 

Sing Sing (United States) with actor Colman Domingo 

MODERN MASTERS   

New films, classic auteurs.   

Hard Truths (United Kingdom/Spain), Director Mike Leigh

Never Alone (Estonia/Finland), Director Klaus Härö (North American Premiere) 

Parthenope (Italy), Director Paolo Sorrentino 

Presence (United States), Director Steven Soderbergh

A Traveler’s Needs (South Korea), Director Hong Sangsoo 

When Fall Is Coming (France), Director François Ozon (U.S. Premiere)

NEW VOICES NEW VISIONS   

Unique viewpoints from first- and second-time directors.   

Bob Trevino Likes It (United States), Director Tracie Laymon 

Bonjour Tristesse (Canada/Germany), Director Durga Chew-Bose

Color Book (United States), Director David Fortune

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (South Africa), Director Embeth Davidtz (California Premiere)

Hanami (Switzerland/Portugal/Cape Verde), Director Denise Fernandes 

The New Year That Never Came (Romania), Director Bogdan Mureșanu (California Premiere) 

To A Land Unknown (United Kingdom/Palestine/France/Greece/Netherlands/Germany/Qatar/Saudi Arabia), Director Mahdi Fleifel

AMERICAN INDIES 

Independent films from rising American filmmakers.  

Bad Shabbos (United States), Director Daniel Robbins

The Friend (United States), Directors Scott Mcgehee, David Siegel (California Premiere)

I Don’t Understand You (United States/Italy), Directors Brian Crano, David Craig

Lilly (United States), Director Rachel Feldman (California Premiere) 

Love Me (United States), Director Sam Zuchero & Andy Zuchero 

Millers In Marriage (United States), Director Edward Burns (U.S. Premiere)

Paper Flowers (United States), Director Mahesh Pailoor 

Sacramento (United States), Director Michael Angarano

TRUE STORIES   

Non-fiction filmmaking at its most urgent and illuminating.   

Adrianne & The Castle (Canada), Director Shannon Walsh 

Agent of Happiness (Bhutan/Hungary), Director Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó 

Apocalypse in the Tropics (Brazil), Director Petra Costa (California Premiere)

Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It (United States), Director Paris Barclay 

Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story (Ireland/United Kingdom), Director Sinéad O’shea (California Premiere) 

Bring Them Home (United States), Directors Ivan Macdonald, Ivy Macdonald, Daniel Glick 

Checkpoint Zoo (United States/Ukraine), Director Joshua Zeman 

Counted Out (United States), Director Vicki Abeles 

Desert Angel (United States), Director Vincent Deluca (California Premiere) 

The Diamond King (United States), Director Marq Evans (California Premiere) 

Diane Warren: Relentless (United States), Director Bess Kargman

Driver (United States), Director Nesa Azimi (California Premiere) 

Every Little Thing (Australia), Director Sally Aitken (California Premiere) 

Good Men (United States), Director Bobby Roth 

Group Therapy (United States), Director Neil Berkeley

Headhunting To Beatboxing (India), Director Rohit Gupta (North American Premiere) 

His Own Way – The Cinema of Avi Nesher (Israel), Director Yair Raveh

Homegrown (United States), Director Michael Premo 

Igualada (Colombia/Mexico/United States), Director Juan Mejía 

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence (United States), Director Varda Bar-Kar 

Jean Cocteau (United States), Director Lisa Immordino Vreeland (California Premiere) 

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (United States), Director Bruce David Klein (California Premiere) 

Mistress Dispeller (China/United States), Director Elizabeth Lo 

My Sweet Land (Jordan/United States/France/Ireland), Director Sareen Hairabedian

Nasty (Romania), Directors Tudor Giurgiu, Tudor D. Popescu, Cristian Pascariu (North American Premiere)

No Other Land (Palestine), Directors Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor 

Paul Anka: His Way (United States), Director John Maggio (California Premiere) 

Sabbath Queen (United States), Director Sandi DuBowski

Schindler Space Architect (United States), Director Valentina Ganeva 

Shelf Life (United States/Japan/Switzerland/Georgia/England/Egypt/Spain/Wales), Director Ian Cheney (California Premiere) 

Space Cowboy (United States), Directors Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt 

The Stamp Thief (United States/Poland/Germany), Director Dan Sturman (World Premiere) 

A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things (United Kingdom), Director Mark Cousins (California Premiere) 

Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of A Culinary Maverick (Japan), Director Aki Mizutani (North American Premiere) 

Transfers (Argentina/Uruguay), Director Nicolás Gil Lavedra (North American Premiere) 

Walk With Me (United States), Director Heidi Levitt 

Whatever It Takes (United Kingdom/United States), Director Jenny Carchman 

You’re No Indian (United States), Director Ryan Flynn (World Premiere) 

Zurawski V. Texas (United States), Directors Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault

SPANISH FOCUS 

Stories from Spanish filmmakers. 

Afternoons of Solitude (Spain/France/Portugal), Director Albert Serra 

The Exiles (Spain/Chile), Director Belén Funes (U.S. Premiere) 

Holy Mother (Spain/Belgium), Director Antonio Chavarrías (California Premiere) 

I Am Nevenka (Spain/Italy), Director Icíar Bollaín (California Premiere) 

Marco, The Invented Truth (Spain), Directors Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño (California Premiere) 

Rioja, The Land of a Thousand Wines (Spain), Director José Luis López-Linares 

The Wailing (Spain/France/Argentina), Director Pedro Martín-Calero (U.S. Premiere) 

SPOTLIGHT: PEDRO ALMODÓVAR 

As part of the Spanish Focus there will be a spotlight selection featuring films from celebrated filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar. 

All About My Mother (1999)

Matador (1986)

The Room Next Door (2024)

Talk To Her (2002)

QUEER CINEMA TODAY & THE GAYLA   

Poignant, heartfelt and insightful stories from the LGBTQ community.   

Bun Tikki (India), Director Faraz Arif Ansari (World Premiere)

Desire Lines (United States), Director Jules Rosskam 

Drive Back Home (Canada), Director Michael Clowater 

Four Mothers (Ireland/United Kingdom), Director Darren Thornton 

A House Is Not a Disco (United States), Director Brian J. Smith 

I’m Your Venus (United States), Director Kimberly Reed (California Premiere) 

Misericordia (France/Spain/Portugal), Director Alain Guiraudie

A Nice Indian Boy (United States/Canada), Director Roshan Sethi (California Premiere, Gayla Spotlight) 

Sally! (United States), Director Deborah Craig, Jörg Fockele, Ondine Rarey (Gay!la Spotlight) 

FAMILY DAY 

Movies to enjoy with the whole family. 

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (United States), Director Pete Browngardt 

Flow (Latvia/France/Belgium), Director Gints Zibalodis

The Mountain (New Zealand), Director Rachel House (U.S. Premiere) 

WORLD CINEMA NOW   

Travel the world without leaving your seat.   

Arcadia (Greece/Bulgaria/United States), Director Yorgos Zois (North American Premiere) 

Auction (France), Director Pascal Bonitzer 

Audrey (Australia), Director Natalie Bailey (California Premiere) 

Black Dog (China), Director Guan Hu 

Bushido (Japan), Director Kazuya Shiraishi

The Correspondent (Australia), Kriv Stenders (International Premiere) 

From Hilde, With Love (Germany), Director Andreas Dresen (U.S. Premiere) 

Ghost Trail (France/Germany/Belgium), Director Jonathan Millet (California Premiere) 

Happy Holidays (Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar), Director Scandar Copti (California Premiere)

John Cranko (Germany), Director Joachim Lang (North American Premiere) 

Maldoror (Belgium/France), Director Fabrice du Welz

Manas (Brazil/Portugal), Director Marianna Brennand (North American Premiere) 

My Favourite Cake (Iran/France/Sweden/Germany), Directors Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha

Odd Fish (Iceland/Finland/Czech Republic), Director Snævar Sölvason (International Premiere) 

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia/United Kingdom/Ireland), Director Rungano Nyoni

Pink Lady (Israel/Italy), Director Nir Bergman (California Premiere) 

The Quiet Ones (Denmark/United States), Director Frederik Louis Hviid (California Premiere)

Quisling – The Final Days (Norway), Director Erik Poppe (U.S. Premiere) 

Sex (Norway/United States), Director Dag Johan Haugerud (California Premiere)

The Shameless (Switzerland/France/Bulgaria/Taiwan/India), Director Konstantin Bojanov (North American Premiere) 

Sons (Denmark/Sweden), Director Gustav Möller (North American Premiere)

Souleymane’s Story (France), Director Boris Lojkine 

Sunshine (Philippines), Director Antoinette Jadaone (U.S. Premiere) 

Superboys Of Malegaon (India/United States), Director Reema Kagti 

Tatami (Georgia/Israel/Iran), Directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Guy Nattiv (U.S. Premiere) 

There’s Still Tomorrow (Italy/United States), Director Paola Cortellesi

Through Rocks and Clouds (Peru/Chile), Director Franco García Becerra (California Premiere)

Tinā (Mother) (New Zealand), Director Miki Magasiva (California Premiere) 

To Kill a Mongolian Horse (Malaysia/Hong Kong/South Korea/Japan/Saudi Arabia/Thailand/United States), Director Xiaoxuan Jiang (North American Premiere) 

Trifole (Italy/South Africa/United States), Director Gabriele Fabbro (International Premiere) 

Waltzing With Brando (United States/French Polynesia), Director Bill Fishman

The Way, My Way (Australia), Director Bill Bennett (North American Premiere) 

William Tell (United Kingdom), Director Nick Hamm (U.S. Premiere) 

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT   

Highlighting films from the Coachella Valley.   

Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (United States), Director Matthew Miele   

Juried awards for films in-competition will be announced Sunday, January 12 for seven categories, including the FIPRESCI Prize for films in the International Feature Film Oscar® Submissions program; New Voices New Visions Award for unique viewpoints from first and second-time directors; Best Documentary Award for compelling non-fiction filmmaking; Ibero-American Award for the best film from Latin America, Spain or Portugal; Desert Views (Local Jury) Award for a film that promotes understanding and acceptance between people; Young Cineastes Award for a film chosen by our Youth Jury; and the Bridging the Borders Award presented by Cinemas Without Borders for a film that is successful in bringing the people of our world closer together.