| Film Festival Awards Luncheon |
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 Sunday, January 17, 2010Spencer’s Restaurant Palm Springs, California Story and photos by Pat Krause For more photos by Pat Krause of the Awards Luncheon, click here. The Palm Springs International Film Festival held an Awards Luncheon on Sunday, Jan. 17, at Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs, Calif. The Festival screened 189 films from 70 countries. Festival Director Darryl MacDonald spoke to the guests and noted they had a record attendance, positive audience and industry feedback. The Festival was an unqualified success on every level.  “When other Festivals are hit hard by the economic downturn, we have been extremely lucky to have reversed that trend by having record crowds,” said MacDonald.Festival attendees selected “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” from Sweden/Denmark as the Mercedes-Benz Award for Best Narrative Feature. Niels Arden Oplev was the director of this gripping thriller. The runner up film was “The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner” from Bulgaria/Germany/Slovenia. The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature was “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”. This film documents the personal Journey of Daniel Ellsberg from government insider to Anti-war activist. Runner up was “Inside Hana’s Suitcase.”  Fipresci has three awards: Best Foreign Language film went to ”Involuntary” by Ruben Ostlund of Sweden, Best Actor was Tedo Bekhauri from the film “The Other Bank” and Best Actress went to Canadian Anne Dorval for the film “I Killed My Mother.” “A Brand New Life” won the New Voices/New Visions award. Honorable Mention went to “Devil’s Town.” Michael Childers announced the Schlesinger Award for Outstanding First Feature. “Eyes Wide Open” from Israel won that award. Special Mention films were “Queen to Play” from France and “Samson & Delilah” from Australia. The Final Award, Bridging the Borders, went to “Letters to Father Jacob” from Finland. This is for a film that brings people in the world closer together. Guests were treated to a fabulous buffet lunch with salads, fruits, meats and an array of beautiful and delicious desserts. Spencer’s always puts out the best-tasting foods and has beautiful scenery as it is nestled against the mountain. A pianist entertained during the buffet. Guests included members of the PSIFF and industry producers, directors and a few actors. Many thanks were given to the special people that make the Festival the success it has become, especially Harold Matzner, Jackie Lee Houston, Michael Childers, Darryl MacDonald, Helen Du Toit and Carl Spence to name a few.Planning for next year’s festival has already begun. For more photos by Pat Krause of the Awards Luncheon, click here. For more about the Palm Springs International Film Festival, click here. For more about Spencer’s Restaurant, click here. |
