Snow birds flock to Palm Springs film fest

The 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival features a line-up of more than 200 films, countless special events all over the city and kicked off with a star-studded gala.

PISFF took over downtown Monday afternoon. KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 hosted a two-hour social, live from the red carpet and, not surprisingly, celebrity sightings were one of the big draws.

“We’ve been coming here since 1974 and we go to the film festival every year and take in at least half a dozen movies,” Irvin Boschman told KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner.

Boschman’s wife is deaf, so they enjoy seeing foreign films with closed captioning.

The festival brings thousands of industry insiders, movie enthusiasts and snow-birds to the area Coachella Valley.

“We walked carefully over frozen ice to get to the airport in Vancouver, Canada,” Dale Trimble said, standing next to his wife Johanna. “We’re glad to be here.”

PSIFF is a two-week long, star-studded affair.

“It would be the closet thing to going to an Academy Award experience,” said Steven Bychyk who hails from Edmonton, Alberta and has attended three previous years where he met the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Adrien Brody, Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart.

Many people get excited about the big names the event draws.

“I am most excited for Tom Hanks, but I mean everyone is going to be here,” said another Canadian, Vanessa Gill.

However, for some, celebrity attendees are the least enticing aspect of the event.

“I couldn’t care less,” Dale said, followed by a laugh.

“We’re not here for the celebrities, we’re here for for the sun,” Joanna finished.

As far as the actual movies go, there will be something for everyone.

“I like to see more of the independent films rather than the big blockbusters but those look good too,” Gill added.

For more information on the films available for viewing over the next couple of weeks, click here.