Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF)

Overview

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is a major international film festival founded in 1990 in Palm Springs, California. The 37th edition ran January 2-13, 2026, screening 169 films from 72 countries including 53 premieres. The 38th edition is scheduled for January 7-18, 2027. The festival is produced by the Palm Springs International Film Society, a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit, and the City of Palm Springs is its title sponsor.

PSIFF operates two distinct events each year: the main film festival in January (features only, 70+ minutes) and the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival (ShortFest) in June, which is the largest short film festival and market in North America. ShortFest is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films.

The Film Awards gala, held on the first weekend of the festival at the Palm Springs Convention Center, has become known as the first stop on the Academy Awards campaign trail. Nearly all honorees at the 2025 Film Awards went on to receive Academy Award nominations, and four went on to win Oscars: Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress), and Zoe Saldana (Vanguard Award). The 2026 festival screened Oscar-winning films I'm Still Here (Best International Feature), Flow (Best Animated Feature), No Other Land (Best Documentary Feature), and I'm Not a Robot (Best Live Action Short, which screened at ShortFest).

Key Sections

Palm Springs International Film Festival (January, Features Only)

• Awards Gala - star-studded celebrity honors at the Palm Springs Convention Center
• Official Selection - curated international features from 70+ countries
• International Feature Film Oscar Submissions - PSIFF regularly screens 40+ of the Academy's International Feature Film submissions
• Premieres - opening night, closing night, and special premiere screenings
• Talking Pictures - screenings followed by Q and A sessions with actors or directors
• Documentary Programming - curated nonfiction features
• Special Screenings - retrospective and restoration screenings
• Best of Fest - encore screenings of festival highlights on the final day

Palm Springs ShortFest (June, Short Films)

• International Short Film Competition - Academy Award-qualifying short film competition
• Short Film Market - the largest short film market in North America
• Curated Short Programs - thematic groupings of short films across fiction, documentary, and animation

What Filmmakers Should Know

Submission Process (Film Festival, January)

Submissions for the main film festival are made through FilmFreeway. The 38th annual festival is scheduled for January 7-18, 2027.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Submitted films must be 70 minutes or longer (narrative features or documentary features)
• PSIFF does not accept short film submissions for the January festival. Short filmmakers should submit to ShortFest
• Films must have been completed in 2026 (exceptions for Academy Award Best International Feature Film submissions)
• Films completed in 2025 will only be considered if they premiered in 2026. Films premiering prior to 2026 will not be considered
• Films must not have been screened previously in the Coachella Valley
• Films must not have been broadcast or available on streaming services in the US prior to January 2027

Premiere requirements: PSIFF does not require a US premiere. However, films must not have been screened theatrically in the Palm Springs area before the festival dates, and must not be available to US audiences online or on streaming platforms.

Submission fees and deadlines: Fees are tiered across Early Bird, Regular, and Late deadlines. A limited number of fee waivers are available only during the Early Bird submission period (April 6 - June 6). After this date, only a limited number of partial discounts may be considered. Submission fees are non-refundable. The only exception is if the filmmaker purchased FilmFreeway's Submission Protection coverage.

Notification: Final notifications are sent via FilmFreeway in early November. Filmmakers should check their FilmFreeway messages and spam folder if they do not hear by November 13, 2026.

Submission Process (ShortFest, June)

ShortFest submissions are made through a separate FilmFreeway page. ShortFest is Academy Award-qualifying, meaning winning certain ShortFest awards qualifies short films for Oscar consideration in the short film categories.

Film Awards Gala

The Film Awards gala is a separately ticketed event held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on the first Saturday of the festival. The 2026 gala took place January 3. The 2027 gala is scheduled for a Thursday in January at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

2025 Film Awards honorees (36th Annual):

• Adrien Brody - Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor (The Brutalist)
• Angelina Jolie - Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress (Maria)
• Conclave - Ensemble Performance Award
• Nicole Kidman - International Star Award, Actress (Babygirl)
• Emilia Perez - Vanguard Award
• Kieran Culkin - Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor (A Real Pain)
• Timothee Chalamet - Chairman's Award (A Complete Unknown)
• Ariana Grande - Rising Star Award, Actress (Wicked)
• Mikey Madison - Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress (Anora)
• Colman Domingo - Spotlight Award, Actor (Sing Sing)
• Denis Villeneuve - Visionary Award (Dune: Part Two)

2026 Film Awards honorees (37th Annual):

• Leonardo DiCaprio - Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor
• Michael B. Jordan - Icon Award
• Adam Sandler - Chairman's Award
• Amanda Seyfried - Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress
• Ethan Hawke - Career Achievement Award
• Cast of Hamnet (dir. Chloe Zhao, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal) - Vanguard Award
• Cast of Sentimental Value (starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, and Elle Fanning) - International Star Award

Awards are designed by Dale Chihuly (Chihuly Studios) and John Kennedy Studio. The Entertainer, the official statuette of the festival, was created by sculptor John Kennedy (1931-2004).

Strategic Value for Filmmakers

For international filmmakers, PSIFF is one of the most important US festival destinations. The festival's practice of screening 40+ International Feature Film Oscar submissions each January makes it a key stop for films targeting the Academy's Best International Feature Film category. Audiences and critics in Palm Springs see these films during the height of Oscar voting season, generating buzz and reviews that can influence the race.

For documentary filmmakers, the festival's strong documentary programming and its timing during awards season provide visibility for awards-eligible documentaries. No Other Land (2025 Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature) screened at PSIFF before winning the Academy Award.

For short filmmakers, ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America. Its Academy Award-qualifying status makes it a top-tier target for short filmmakers pursuing Oscar nomination. The market component provides additional industry exposure, connecting short filmmakers with buyers, programmers, and distributors.

Practical Considerations

Palm Springs is a desert resort city in the Coachella Valley, approximately 2 hours east of Los Angeles by car. The 2026 festival added the historic and newly refurbished Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs as one of its venues, alongside its traditional screening locations.

January in Palm Springs offers ideal weather, with daytime temperatures averaging 18-22 degrees Celsius and clear skies. The city has extensive accommodation options ranging from luxury resorts to mid-range hotels and vacation rentals. However, the festival and Film Awards gala draw significant crowds, so booking accommodation early is recommended.

Individual screening tickets cost approximately $20. Talking Pictures events (screenings with Q and A sessions) cost $30-$40. Full festival passes are also available. The film festival box office can be reached at 760-778-8979. Many seating levels for the Film Awards gala sell out in advance; options can be found at psfilmfest.org/film-awards/seats-and-tables.

Major Awards

Film Awards Gala Honors

• Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor - for outstanding performance by a male actor
• Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress - for outstanding performance by a female actor
• Chairman's Award - for career achievement and contribution to cinema
• International Star Award - for international actors and actresses
• Vanguard Award - for groundbreaking films and ensembles
• Breakthrough Performance Award - for emerging talent (actor and actress, separate awards)
• Rising Star Award - for early-career actors and actresses
• Career Achievement Award - for lifetime contribution to film
• Icon Award - for iconic status in cinema
• Spotlight Award - for standout performances (actor and actress, separate awards)
• Visionary Award - for innovative filmmaking
• Ensemble Performance Award - for outstanding cast performances

ShortFest Awards (Academy Award-Qualifying)

ShortFest presents competitive awards across short film categories. Winning certain ShortFest awards qualifies films for Academy Award consideration. Specific award categories and prize details should be verified on the ShortFest website.

Festival History

The Palm Springs International Film Festival was launched in 1990. The festival grew through the 1990s and 2000s alongside Palm Springs' emergence as a luxury destination and retirement community for entertainment industry professionals. The festival's proximity to Los Angeles (a 2-hour drive) made it accessible to Hollywood talent, agents, and executives, enabling the Film Awards gala to attract A-list honorees.

The Film Awards gala evolved into a significant Oscar campaign event. Studios and distributors use the gala to position their films and talent during the critical Academy voting period in early January. The gala's track record of predicting Oscar winners has given it outsized influence in awards season strategy.

The Palm Springs International Film Society expanded its programming in 1995 with the launch of ShortFest, which has grown into the largest short film festival and market in North America. ShortFest's Academy Award-qualifying status has made it a target festival for short filmmakers worldwide.

The 2026 festival (37th edition) screened 169 films from 72 countries, including 53 premieres, and introduced the historic Plaza Theatre as a new venue. The organization is led by Managing Director Rhea A. Woodson, Artistic Director Lilian Rodriguez, and programming and education lead Jennifer Van Camp.

See Also

For international film markets and distribution, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning and awards strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate the financial return of festival submissions, see the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.