Student jury premieres at 30th Palm Springs International Film Festival

It’s something unprecedented in the 29-year history of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. But it’s a change which comes as a welcome one for eight lucky local students; this year, the festival is introducing a student jury to judge nine films mirroring the experiences of young people.

Pierce Marengo is a senior at Palm Springs High School and one of the students selected to the jury.

“I was so excited to be a part of something greater for film and for the whole valley and being able to select a film for the jury and being able to see that film get an award. It’s a great experience,” Marengo said.

But the student’s experience isn’t just a critical one; they get the chance to present an award to the winner at the festival’s brunch. ‘

The jury represents the valley as a whole, with students from Yucca Valley, Indio, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Coachella filling out the group. Michael Lerman, the Artistic Director of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, is glad to make each one of them a part of the festival and help expose them to all that the event has to offer.

“We have a worldly selection of films and a lot of amazing things from this year, and I think the only way we’re going to create a new generation of film lovers and film watchers is to expose people to things like that,” said Lerman.