Palm Springs Film Fest Opens Tonight With Emily Blunt

The 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will kick off tonight.

The opening night gala starts at 6:30 p.m. at Palm Springs High School, to be followed by a reception at the Palm Springs Art Museum. The sold-out gala will feature a screening of “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” and the film’s co- star, Emily Blunt, is expected to attend, festival spokeswoman Heather Riccio said.

Click here for complete coverage of the Palm Springs International Film Festival from KESQ.com

The festival, which runs until Jan. 16, will feature more than 180 films from more than 70 countries. Screenings will be held at several theaters in the Palm Springs area.

On Saturday, Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams, George Clooney, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, composer Howard Shore, director Stephen Daldry and French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius will be honored at the festival’s awards gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center, which is also sold-out, Riccio said.

Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, who will escort eight local students on the red carpet, said the festival “is the most fun and unique special event in the Coachella Valley and brings in thousands of movie buffs and entertainment industry leaders to our city every January to enjoy the very best in American and foreign film.”

“I encourage everyone in the Coachella Valley and beyond to visit Palm Springs and experience this uniquely original film fest for yourselves,” he said.

Founded in 1990 by then-Palm Springs Mayor Sonny Bono, the festival is one of the largest in North America, according to the city.

“It is also seen by American distributors as one of the best Academy Award campaign marketing tools in the country,” city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell said.

On Sunday, Variety magazine will honor actress Charlize Theron and spotlight 10 up-and-coming directors at the Parker Palm Springs.

For tickets, go to www.psfilmfest.org or call (800) 898-7256.