'Ten Directors to Watch' Variety lunch at PSIFF

 David O Russell

On January 6th during the 24th Palm Springs International Film Festival, Variety held a lunch honoring director David O Russell ('Silver Linings Playbook', 2012) with the Indie Impact Award, presented by Mercedes-Benz. Also in attendance at the lunch were the honored directors from '10 Directors to Watch', which sheds light on exceptionally talented new directors from around the world. 

The 'ten directors to watch' are: Haifaa Al-Mansour (“Wadjda”); Wayne Blair (‘The Sapphires”); John Krokidas (“Kill Your Darlings”); Tobias Lindholm (“A Hijacking”); David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”); Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (“21 and Over”); Andres Muscietti (“Mama”); David Ondricek (“In the Shadow”); Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg (“Kon-Tiki”); and Rebecca Thomas (“Electrick Children”).

Five of these film screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival: “Electrick Children,” “A Hijacking,” “In the Shadow,” “Kon-Tiki” and “The Sapphires”. The event was presented by Mercedes-Benz and venue partner the Parker Palm Springs.