The 2007 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market is proof that great films don’t have to clock in at three-plus hours. Stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Bryce Dallas Howard, Margaret Cho, James Gandolfini, Louis Gossett, Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Joanna Lumley, Ron Livingston, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna, Alfred Molina, Patrick Stewart, Hugo Weaving, and Robin Wright Penn seem to agree, taking their places both in front of and behind the camera in this year’s selections. 
These star-studded shorts join a roster of 332 films from 35 countries, narrowed down from 2,500 international submissions. In all, 54 world premieres, 12 North American premieres, and 20 U.S. premieres will be spotlighted at the festival, held from August 23-29, 2007 at the Camelot Theatres.
For the 13th year running, the festival in Palms Springs, California, brings together the best 
short films from around the world and presents them in 50 themed programs addressing a wide range of topics and themes. You’ll find short films covering war, security, immigration, animation, crime, romance, sex, friendship, work, travel, horror, musicals, westerns, mothers, the Jewish experience, and gay and lesbian lifestyles. Additionally, the festival will dedicate a special section of the screenings to films from the United Kingdom. For the first time, Kenya, Russia, Croatia, Greece, Iran, Hungary, and Poland all have films in the festival, and the international representation doesn’t end there. The festival includes 83 films that have already garnered awards from renowned competitions in Berlin, Sundance, Annecy, Clermont-Ferrand, Aspen, Tribeca, Los Angeles, Montreal Melbourne, Brussels, Rotterdam, Flanders, Chicago, CineVegas, South by Southwest Film Festivals, and the Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. with a schedule highlighted by award-winning live-action and animated films such as "Contact/Raak" (Netherlands), "Everything Will Be OK" (USA), "Fair Trade" (Germany/Morocco), "Tanghi Argentini" (Belgium), "Love and War" (Sweden) and "The Pearce Sisters" (UK).
Closer to home, both Jennifer Aniston and Bryce Dallas Howard make their directing debuts. Jennifer helms "Room 10" starring Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson, 
while Palm Springs International Film Festival Rising Star recipient Bryce Dallas Howard presents "Orchids" starring Alfred Molina and Katherine Waterson. More marquee names on the festival schedule include James Gandolfini, Louis Gossett, Jr., Joe Mantegna and Steven R. McQueen (Steve McQueen’s son) in "Club Soda" (USA); Patrick Stewart and Joanna Lumley in "The Audition" (UK); Hugo Weaving narrating "The Girl Who Swallowed Bees" (Australia) starring Pia Miranda; Ron Livingston in "Life Happens" (USA); Margaret Cho and Jane Lynch in "Love Is Love" (USA); David Morse in "A.W.O.L." (USA); Ron Silver and JoBeth Williams in "Call It Fiction" (USA); Wendie Malick in "Waiting for Yvette" (USA); Richard E. Grant in "Always Crashing in the Same Car" (UK); John Hannah in "Stone" (UK); and Ruta Lee and Steve Rossi in "Sadie and the Slot Machines" (USA).
Jury members and industry veterans John Dahl, director of "You Kill Me"; Bijan Tehrani from Cinema Without Borders; Rebecca Winters Keegan, "Time" magazine; Kimberly Yutani, associate director of programming Outfest; and Amotz Zakai from Echo Lake Entertainment will view all the films and award the festival’s cash prices. The festival’s first-place winners are automatically entered for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a possible Academy Award nomination. In the last 11 years, 53 films from the festival have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.
The festival will present numerous seminars and panels to provide guidance and open up discussions about short filmmaking. In addition to his work on the jury, John Dahl will present a master class on making short films. Bill Plympton – the master animator, two-time Academy Award nominee, and winner of two major Cannes International Film Festival prizes – will also hold a class. In addition, festival attendees can sign up for workshops on using Super 16 films, directing actors, and pitching projects. Panels cover hot topics such as how to obtain products and services for your small film, how to capture media attention for your work, and how to take advantage of all the current multimedia possibilities.
Local and national sponsors support the Palms Springs International Festival of Short Films, with the City of Palm Springs holding the distinction of being Title Sponsor. Presenting Sponsors include Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, The Desert Sun, Spencer’s and Wessman Development Company. Major Sponsors are Bandit Cinema, The Bottom Line, CBS2, Kaiser Restaurant Group, Kodak, Las Casuelas Terraza, Nickelodeon, Palm Springs Women in Film & Television and Panavision. The official hotel and media center is located at the Hilton Palm Springs Resort.
The Palms Springs International Festival of Short Films
(800) 778-8979
