Palm Springs Film Fest to Feature World Premieres

The sixth annual Palm Springs International Film Festival opens Jan. 5 with the Australian film “Muriel’s Wedding,” starring Toni Collette as a young woman in search of her Prince Charming.

This year’s 10-day festival will present more than 100 films, highlighted by 10 world premieres and more than 20 North American or U.S. premieres. Among the key films to be shown are “Strawberry & Chocolate,” “Camilla,” “Tom & Viv,” Diane Kurys’ “Six Days, Six Nights” and “The Last Good Time.”

Among the world premieres are “Mirage,” a suspense thriller starring Edward James Olmos as a cop investigating a murder (filmed entirely in Palm Springs); “Decadence,” starring Joan Collins; “Desert Winds,” with Heather Graham and Grace Zabriskie; “Girl in the Cadillac,” with Erika Eleniak, and Robert Wuhl’s “Open Season.” The festival will also screen 13 films that are among the official entries in the Academy Awards’ best foreign language category.

George Sidney will receive the director’s lifetime achievement award, and Tony Curtis will be honored with the Desert Palm achievement award. There will also be a special tribute to River Phoenix, honors to Alan Ladd and Esther Williams, an Elvis Presley retrospective and a director’s showcase, featuring French Canadian director Denys Arcand.

Information: (619) 322-2930.