Fans camping out ahead of film festival

Celebrating the new year typically isn’t the only tradition at the beginning of January for Steven Cutler and Steven Markin.

“We got here at 7:15 [Sunday] morning,” Cutler said. “There was someone in front of us, and we just spent our day [with] more people showing up, [and] some friends showing up with cookies, milk and coffee.”

For eight years, the Cathedral City couple has set up camp on the eve of the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s opening gala to join others trying to catch a glimpse, and even an autograph, from some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

“We started off, and the very first night we ended up with five autographs,” Cutler said. “And so every year, we haven’t gotten any less than five.”

And this year, “The Steves” said they’re set to hopefully add to their collection.

“Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Octavia Spencer,” Markin said.

While enjoying the company of today’s top film stars, and fans from around the globe.

“We met some really interesting and lovely people from all over the world,” Cutler said. “We made some good friends in different states and countries. And we keep in contact. So, I’m looking forward to more of that.”

Throughout the years, both Cutler and Markin have collected more than four dozen autographed pictures of stars featured at the film festival.

Stay tuned to KESQ and CBS Local 2 for complete coverage of the 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival.