The 19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will honor Jerry Weintraub with the Patron of the Arts Award presented by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, at the Festival’s annual Awards Gala. The Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, will also honor Sean Penn, Marion Cotillard, Emile Hirsch and Nikki Blonksy and is hosted by “Entertainment Tonight’s” Mary Hart.

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation will present the Patron of the Arts Award to Weintraub, which is given to a person who has contributed significantly to the support of persons or projects that encourage and recognize the commitment to excellence in the film industry. Sydney Pollack received the award at last year’s event.

Greenburg said, “We are grateful that the Palm Springs International Film Festival has been selected by the SAG Foundation to present their Patron of the Arts Award. Not only do we get to honor Jerry Weintraub, a distinguished producer, but a man who continues to contribute to humanitarian causes without seeking recognition.”

Marcia Smith, Executive Director of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation said, “Our award reads ‘vision before, behind and beyond the lens.’ Jerry Weintraub personifies that vision as a director, producer, actor and humanitarian. We are so proud to have him as this year's recipient. He sets the bar extraordinarily high.”

As the consummate jack-of-all-trades, Jerry Weintraub has the uncanny ability to make every person he works with feel like he or she matters. No matter what the medium—films, television, music or live theater—this skill has served him well for half a century. Though the Brooklyn-born, Bronx-bred Weintraub set out to translate his charm into an acting career, he quickly realized he could become an even bigger star thanks to his savvy about what goes on behind the scenes.

This year Weintraub produced two Warner Bros. films Ocean’s Thirteen starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and Nancy Drew starring Emma Roberts. The original 1977 Oh, God!, as well as National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation, the Karate Kid movies, Nashville, Cruising and Diner are all shining examples of how the enterprising Weintraub successfully anticipated the wants and desires of audiences—ranging from mainstream movie fans to discerning cinema buffs.

When it comes to charity work, Weintraub points out his family and early role models set a good example on “the right ways” to contribute money and time. The many organizations where he has made a difference include The Hebrew Home for the Aged, The Urban League, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Department of Orthopedics, American Heart Association, the George Bush Presidential Library Center, Los Angeles Music Center, Variety Club, B'nai B'rith, Mount Sinai Medical Center, The Children's Diabetes Foundation, Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, Rose and Sam Weintraub Elementary School, Brown University and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, the PSIFF is one of the largest film festivals in North America. The Festival has an attractive film sales and distribution record and is seen by American distributors as one of the best Academy Award campaign marketing tools. The Festival also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and an annual black-tie gala award presentation.

Renewing their support of this year’s Festival is Title Sponsor, The City of Palm Springs and Presenting Sponsors, Spencer’s Restaurant, The Desert Sun, the City of Indian Wells, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Wessman Development. Major sponsors include Integrated Wealth Management, Entertainment Tonight, Regal Entertainment and Wells Fargo.

The 19th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, scheduled from January 3-14, 2008, will feature a line up of more than 230 films from 65 countries, seminars, special events and Gala receptions. For additional information call 760-322-2930 or 800-898-7256 or www.psfilmfest.org.