MarlaLewinGFV

 

MARLA: LET’S TALK MOVIES…

 

SO DAVID, TELL ME ABOUT THIS YEARS UPCOMING FESTIVAL.

 

DAVID:  This year we have 179 movies.  the festival will be  back to the size before the pandemic. We are using the Palm Springs theatre, the Regal, the Annenberg, the Mary Pickford.  As you know we have always  specialized in international films, and this year we are showing 40.  We have a  very strong line up. We expect to show all of the films which will  make the academy shortlist, which will be announced on December 21st.

 

MARLA: The Golden Globes has already announced their nominations and you will be showing most of those, along with awarding so many stars, and talent

 

DAVID:  Yes, ZONE OF INTEREST just won the LA critics award.

 

MARLA: That’s a very timely film. as is AGNIESKA’S HOLLAND'S, GREEN BORDERS, which won the audience award at the chicago international film festival, and a special Jury Award in Venice.

 

DAVID:  Yes, that film was not nominated from POLAND, for the best international film, but we have decided to give Agnieska a lifetime achievement for her body of work.  i thought her film, “Green borders." was a standout. One of her best movies.

 

MARLA: You are showing many winners from Cannes, and some other wonderful french films.

 

DAVID:  “FALLEN LEAVES”  was a big hit in in CANNES. (it won the jury prize)

 

PERFECT DAYS, which WON BEST ACTOR AWARD for Wim Wenders film in Cannes, is an excellent film.  Instead of selecting Justin Triet’s Palme D’ Or winner, “Anatomy of a Fall,” a likely Best Picture nominee, the group picked Tran Anh Hungs sublime, “The Taste of things.” (Still known as “The Pot-au-Feu,” in the rest of the world.)  France has not won the International Film category in 30 years. (with Juliet Binouche…it is the ultimate food movie, by the director of THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA.(TRAN ANH HUNG)

DAVID: “ANATOMY OF A FALL,” which won PALM D’OR in CANNES is based on a french court drama., is playing in Palm Springs and is very good.

   MARLA:  last year the film which won the audience award in Palm Springs was based on a court drama from Argentina.

 

DAVID:  And we have another court drama from France called, “THE GOLDMAN’S,” again based on a true story.

 

MARLA: So along with the wonderful french films from CANNES, this year you have a focus on Korean films.  the classic HANDMAIDEN, 

 

DAVID: The COUNTRY FOCUS: SOUTH KOREA,  is showing CONCRETE UTOPIA, a new KOREAN film

MARLA: I saw you are also showing audience award films from SUNDANCE, CANNES, TORONTO, SXSW AND BERLIN, VENICE.  

TOTUM from MEXICO,  

  

  MARLA:  Are there many women directors this year.

 

DAVID: Lots of women directors, from Mexico, the director has been here before with "CHAMBER MAID."

 

MARLA: You are showing Michael Winterbottoms’ latest, “SHOSANA.”

And you have lots of stars and Oscar hopefuls coming to the Gala.

DAVID: Jeffrey Wright with"AMERICAN FICTION,” a very good film.We have many great films and directors, some in their 80’s like Martin Scorsese. Christopher Nolan, stars Bradley Cooper, Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCapriao.