Palm Springs, CA
January 9-12, 2009

Story and photographs by Pat Krause

Celebrities, such as Susan Morgan-Cooper of “Unlikely Weapon” seen left, and parties were all around the Desert at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). Thursday, Jan. 9, was the first official night of the Film Festival.

It started with an opening-night film, "Last Chance Harvey," starring Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Baker. The film was shown at the Palm Springs High School Theater. It tells the story of a struggling New York jingle writer and a lonely British bureaucrat who meet in London and transform each other’s lives. Hoffman and Emma Thompson were nominated for Golden Globe awards for their performances in this film.

Arrivals of the celebrities and Film Festival officials started at 6 p.m. Baker arrived and posed for photos for the photographers and television cameras. Film Festival officials Harold Matzner, Darryl MacDonald and Helen Du Toit also walked the Red Carpet. They stopped for photos and interviews before heading into the theater.

Another new young actor who arrived on the Red Carpet was Justin Chon from the new hit "Twilight," Chon has another new film out soon and already has a following of fans. "Twilight" is based on a series of four books.

A party for filmgoers was held at the Palm Springs Art Museum. More than 1,000 guests filled the Museum for food and drinks and music. Chon, his publicist Anthony Turk and writer Pam Price were guests of the Viceroy Hotel Restaurant.

Friday was another big day for celebrities and parties.

The 20th PSIFF screened a world premiere of “Like Dandelion Dust" at the Regal Theatre in Palm Springs. Stars of the film, Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Maxwell Perry Cotton and other members of the cast along with the director and producers, were there. Photographers and TV crews were on hand while they walked the Red Carpet at 4 p.m. prior to the film’s screening.

This film is about a young woman who gives up her child for adoption when her husband goes to prison. After he is set free, he uses a legal loophole to get his child back from his upper-crust adoptive parents. This heart-wrenching drama is about the lengths parents will go to protect their kids.

Friday night the PSIFF hosted a 20th anniversary screening party at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. The PSIFF screened the "$5 a Day" movie to celebrate the Festival’s 20th anniversary. This film is about an aging con man, portrayed by Christopher Walken, who entices his estranged son on a long-distance road trip, He uses his skills as a con artist the whole way. This hilarious comedy ends with a heart-warming reconciliation and a huge secret divulged.

Guests from the film headed to the Riviera Hotel’s Ballroom for another fun-filled evening with food, drinks and dancing. Everyone seemed to be having a great time at another wonderful venue.

Special thanks go to the staff of the Palm Springs International Film Festival for their assistance as well as the staffs of the Regal Theatre, Palm Springs High School Theater and the Riviera Hotel.

For more information about the Palm Springs International Film Festival, click here.

For more information about “Last Chance Harvey,” click here.

For more information about “Twilight,” click here.

For more information about “Like Dandelion Dust,” Click here.

For more information about the Palm Springs Art Museum, click here.

For more information about the Palm Springs Riviera Resort & Spa, click here.

For more Pat Krause photos of the opening night, click here.

For more Pat Krause photos of the “Like Dandelion Dust” screening, click here.

For more Pat Krause photos of the 20th Anniversary Screening Party, click here.