The 31st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) announced this year’s juried award winners with the top prize – FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Feature Film going to the Russian film Beanpole, directed by Kantemir Balagov. Bartosz Bielenia from Corpus Christi won the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film and Helena Zengel from System Crasher won the FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actress in an International Feature Film.
Oprah Winfrey has stepped away and will no longer be an executive producer of the upcoming untitled documentary about music executive Drew Dixon, who accused Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct. The documentary also will not air on Apple TV+, but is still expected to world premiere as scheduled at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Rom Com Fest will officially be returning to downtown Los Angeles for a second year, set to run Thursday June 25 – Sunday June 28, 2020. The announcement was made by the festival’s Founder and Executive Director, Miraya Berke.
The 2020 Glasgow Film Festival will open and close with the UK premiere of major feature films directed by women. The 16th annual festival will open on February 26 with Alice Winocour’s Proxima starring Eva Green and close on Sunday March 8 with Coky Giedroyc’s How to Build a Girl.
Canadian, award-winning director Heather Young’s debut feature film, Murmur tells the quiet, contemplative story of Donna (Shan MacDonald) who, grappling with alcohol dependence and loneliness, turns to a growing number of pets to ease her pain. Supported by Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program and starring a cast of non-professional actors, many of whom are playing themselves in the film, Murmur explores the enduring themes of aging and the human/animal connection. Murmur will screen in competition at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival after its US Premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
British film and theater actor Jeremy Irons will serve as president of the International Jury at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival.
The fifth edition of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival will take place between February 6 to 9, 2020 at City Kino Wedding continuing to raise the bar by showcasing horror written directed, and/or produced by women and non-binary filmmakers.
Summer White (Blanco de verano), the debut fiction film by writer-director Rodrigo Ruiz Patterson, will have its world premiere as part of the World Cinema Dramatic competition at the 2020 edition of the Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 23 – February 2 in Park City, Utah.
The rom-com documentary Shoot To Marry, the follow-up to Canadian filmmaker Steve Markle’s cult classic Camp Hollywood released the new trailer prior to the film’s World Premier at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced the lineup of over 200 movies including 47 world premieres and 71 U.S. premieres, for its 35th edition, which will take place from January 15 to 25, 2020. Kicking off the festival is opening night film – the U.S. premiere of Shelly Love’s A Bump Along the Way, a female-led, feel-good comedy drama set in Derry, Northern Ireland, about a middle-aged woman whose unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand acts as the catalyst for her to finally take control of her life.
Self-identity is a bitch
Tribes
From the team behind the Oscar shortlisted documentary feature The Great Hack, Persuasion Machines’ Extended Reality (XR) experience will World Premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in New Frontiers.