As awards season heats up, the desert will once again play host to Hollywood’s biggest contenders. On Dec. 2, the Palm Springs International Film Festival announced the complete lineup for the upcoming event.
The festival’s opening-night film will be Calle Malaga directed by Maryam Touzani on Jan. 2, and will close with Glenrothan directed by Brian Cox on Jan. 11. The festival will screen 168 films from 72 countries and territories, including 53 premieres
Who will be honored at the awards?
The highlight of the fest is the awards gala, which will take place on Jan. 3 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Blue Moon star Ethan Hawke will be the recipient of the Career Achievement Award, while Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s One Battle After Another. Adam Sandler will be awarded the Chairman’s Award for his performance in Netflix’s Jay Kelly, and Michael B. Jordan will receive the Icon Award for his performance in Sinners.
The cast of Sentimental Value will be feted with the International Star Award for their ensemble performance. Cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning are expected to accept the honor, with director Joachim Trier presenting.
Hamnet will receive the Vanguard Award, where director Chloé Zhao and stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are expected. While Amanda Seyfried will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for her role in The Testament of Ann Lee.
Who were previous honorees?
Past recipients of the Chairman’s Award include last year’s recipient, Timothée Chalamet, who went on to receive the Oscar nomination for Best Actor along with previous honorees Amy Adams, George Clooney, Viola Davis, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Regina King, Gary Oldman, and Reese Witherspoon.
Who is behind the festival?
The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. PSIFF’s Film Awards is one of the first stops on the campaign trail for the Oscars.
When will the festival take place?
The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs Jan. 2–11, 2026.
What films will be exhibited?
Here’s the complete list of films that will be screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM SUBMISSIONS
Forty-four of the films chosen by their respective countries for Academy Awards consideration for Best International Feature Film will be shown at the Palm Springs festival.
100 Liters of Gold (Finland), dir. Teemu Nikki
2000 Meters to Andriivka (Ukraine), dir. Mstyslav Chernov
A Poet (Colombia), dir. Simón Mesa Soto
A Sad Beautiful World (Lebanon), dir. Cyril Aris
A Useful Ghost (Thailand), dir. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
All That’s Left of You (Jordan), dir. Cherien Dabis
Belén (Argentina), dir. Dolores Fonzi
Beloved Tropic (Panama), dir. Ana Endara
Eagles of the Republic (Sweden), dir. Tarik Saleh
Familia (Italy), dir. Francesco Costabile
Father (Slovakia), dir. Tereza Nvotová
Franz (Poland), dir. Agnieszka Holland
Happy Birthday (Egypt), dir. Sarah Goher
Hijra (Saudi Arabia), dir. Shahad Ameen (North American Premiere)
Homebound (India), dir. Neeraj Ghaywan
It Was Just an Accident (France), dir. Jafar Panahi
Kokuhô (Japan), dir. Sang-il Lee
Late Shift (Switzerland), dir. Petra Volpe
Left Handed Girl (Taiwan), dir. Shih-Ching Tsou
Little Trouble Girls (Slovenia), dir. Urška Djukić
Magellan (Philippines), dir. Lav Diaz
Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Denmark), dirs. David Borenstein & Pavel Talankin
My Father’s Shadow (United Kingdom), dir. Akinola Davies
No Other Choice (South Korea), dir. Park Chan-wook
Orphan (Hungary), dir. László Nemes
Palestine 36 (Palestine), dir. Annemarie Jacir
Reedland (Netherlands), dir. Sven Bresser
Sirât (Spain), dir. Oliver Laxe
Sound of Falling (Germany), dir. Mascha Schilinski
The Last Dance (Hong Kong), dir. Chan Mou Yin Anselm
The Love That Remains (Iceland), dir. Hlynur Pálmason
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile), dir. Diego Cespedes
The President’s Cake (Iraq), dir. Hasan Hadi
The Sea (Israel), dir. Shai Carmeli-Pollak
The Secret Agent (Brazil), dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho
The Tale of Silyan (North Macedonia), dir. Tamara Kotevska
The Things You Kill (Canada), dir. Alireza Khatami
The Tower of Strength (Montenegro), dir. Nikola Vukčević
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
Traffic (Romania), dir. Teodora Ana Mihai (California Premiere)
Under the Flags, the Sun (Paraguay), dir. Juanjo Pereira
Young Mothers (Belgium), dirs. Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
TALKING PICTURES
The Talking Pictures program includes in-depth discussions with directors, writers and actors from the year’s top titles. The following films selected for this year’s program with guests attending are:
King Hamlet (USA), dir. Elvira Lind (California Premiere) — Expected to attend are actor Oscar Isaac and director Elvira Lind
The Housemaid (USA), dir. Paul Feig — Expected to attend is director Paul Feig
The Librarians (USA), dir. Kim A. Snyder
Additional titles featuring discussions with Film Award honorees will be announced at a later date.
AFTER DARK
The Festival’s late-night corner, serving up sharp, strange, and pulse-pounding genre films.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (USA), dir. Gore Verbinski
Mārama (New Zealand), dir. Taratoa Stappard
The Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin (Indonesia), dir. Hadrah Daeng Ratu (California Premiere)
The Plague (Romania), dir. Charlie Polinger
AMERICAN INDIES
Independent films from rising American filmmakers.
Burt (USA), dir. Joe Burke
Fantasy Life (USA), dir. Matthew Shear
Honeyjoon (USA), dir. Lilian T. Mehrel
Idiotka (USA), dir. Nastasya Popov
She Dances (USA), dir. Rick Gomez
Tow (USA), dir. Stephanie Laing
CLOSE-UPS
Documentaries spotlighting the lives and creative worlds of filmmakers, celebrating the craft, the legends, and the stories behind the camera.
Boorman and the Devil (USA), dir. David Kittredge
Coroner to the Stars (USA), dirs. Ben Hethcoat & Keita Ideno
It’s Dorothy! (USA), dir. Jeffrey McHale
Kim Novak’s Vertigo (USA), dir. Alexandre O. Philippe (U.S. Premiere)
The Eyes of Ghana (USA), dir. Ben Proudfoot
Third Act (USA), dir. Tadashi Nakamura
GATEWAY FILMS
A new series celebrating the titles that sparked a lifelong love of cinema, curated by actress Diane Kruger, critic Leonard Maltin, director Paul Feig, programmer Therese Hayes, and actor Udo Kier.
Fire (India), dir. Deepa Mehta — Selected by Therese Hayes
In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong), dir. Wong Kar-Wai — Selected by Diane Kruger
Medea (Denmark), dir. Lars Von Trier — Selected by Udo Kier
Films curated by Leonard Maltin and Paul Feig to be noted at a later date.
GERMAN FOCUS
Stories from German filmmakers.
A Land Within, dir. Michael Kofler (North American Premiere)
Amrum, dir. Fatih Akin
Bad Painter, dir. Albert Oehlen
Islands, dir. Jan-Ole Gerster (California Premiere)
Miroirs No. 3, dir. Christian Petzold
Silent Friend, dir. Ildikó Enyedi
Stars, dir. Konrad Wolf
The Last Spy, dir. Katharina Otto-Bernstein (California Premiere)
What Marielle Knows, dir. Frédéric Hambalek (California Premiere)
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Highlighting films from the Coachella Valley.
Italian Wannabe (USA), dir. Steve Dabal (World Premiere)
Ramona and the Ballad of Juan Diego (USA), dir. Jason Sklaver (World Premiere)
MODERN MASTERS
New films, classic auteurs.
A Magnificent Life (France), dir. Sylvain Chomet
Below the Clouds (Italy), dir. Gianfranco Rosi
Cover-Up (USA), dir. Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus
Dreams (Mexico), dir. Michel Franco
Hen (Greece), dir. György Pálfi (U.S. Premiere)
Orwell: 2+2=5 (USA), dir. Raoul Peck
The Captive (Spain), dir. Alejandro Amenábar (U.S. Premiere)
The Last Viking (Denmark), dir. Anders Thomas Jensen (California Premiere)
The Soundman (Netherlands), dir. Frank Van Passel (North American Premiere)
Two Prosecutors (France), dir. Sergei Loznitsa
Yes (France), dir. Nadav Lapid
NEW VOICES NEW VISIONS
Unique viewpoints from first- and second-time directors.
Broken Voices (Czech Republic), dir. Ondřej Provazník
Deaf (Spain), dir. Eva Libertad (California Premiere)
God Will Not Help (Croatia), dir. Hana Jušić (California Premiere)
Lucky Lu (Canada), dir. Lloyd Lee Choi
Mad Bills to Pay (USA), dir. Joel Alfonso Vargas
On the Sea (United Kingdom), dir. Helen Walsh (North American Premiere)
Silent Rebellion (Switzerland), dir. Marie-Elsa Sgualdo
The Nature of Invisible Things (Brazil), dir. Rafaela Camelo
The Negotiator (Italy), dir. Alessandro Tonda (North American Premiere)
TRUE STORIES
Non-fiction filmmaking at its most urgent and illuminating.
Adaptation to Darkness (Israel), dir. Shay Fogelman (International Premiere)
ASCO: Without Permission (USA), dir. Travis Gutiérrez Senger
Ask E. Jean (USA), dir. Ivy Meeropol
Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story (USA), dir. Alex Rotaru (World Premiere)
La Salsa Vive (Colombia), dir. Juan Carvajal
Modern Whore (Canada), dir. Nicole Bazuin (International Premiere)
Natchez (USA), dir. Suzannah Herbert
Raoul Wallenberg: Missing Inaction (USA), dir. Brad Rothschild, Brian Mait (North American Premiere)
Remaining Native (USA), dir. Paige Bethmann
Runa Simi (Peru), dir. Augusto Zegarra (California Premiere)
Speak. (USA), dir. Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman
Steal This Story, Please! (USA), dirs. Tia Lessin & Carl Deal
Sweet Störy (United Kingdom), dirs. Sarah Justine Kerruish & Matt Maude
The Gas Station Attendant (USA), dir. Karla Murthy
The Golden Spurtle (U.K.), dir. Constantine Costi
Trade Secret (Australia), dir. Abraham Joffe
Whistle (Australia), dir. Christopher Nelius (California Premiere)
Yanuni (Austria), dir. Richard Ladkani
QUEER CINEMA TODAY & THE GAYLA
Poignant, heartfelt and insightful stories from the LGBTQ community.
3670 (South Korea), dir. Joonho Park
Dope Queens (USA), dir. Grafton Doyle (California Premiere)
Drunken Noodles (USA), dir. Lucio Castro
Jimpa (Australia), dir. Sophie Hyde
Manok (South Korea), dir. Lee Yu-jin
Maspalomas (Spain), dirs. Jose Mari Goenaga & Aitor Arregi (U.S. Premiere) — Featured as the Gayla Spotlight
State of Firsts (USA), dir. Chase Joynt
The Little Sister (France), dir. Hafsia Herzi
We Are Pat (USA), dir. Ro Haber — Featured as the Gayla Spotlight
WORLD CINEMA NOW
Travel the world without leaving your seat.
A Private Life (France), dir. Rebecca Zlotowski
Battle of Oslo (Norway), dir. Daniel Fahre (International Premiere)
Beginnings (Denmark), dir. Jeanette Nordahl (California Premiere)
Colours of Time (France), dir. Cédric Klapisch
Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t (Italy), dir. Gianni Di Gregorio (California Premiere)
Frontier (Spain), dir. Judith Colell (California Premiere)
Fuze (U.K.), dir. David Mackenzie (U.S. Premiere)
Gustaakh Ishq (India), dir. Vibhu Puri
H Is for Hawk (United Kingdom), dir. Philippa Lowthorpe
Hello Betty (Switzerland), dir. Pierre Monnard (International Premiere)
It Would Be Night in Caracas (Mexico), dirs. Mariana Rondón & Marité Ugás (California Premiere)
Ky Nam Inn (Vietnam), dir. Leon Le
Lovely Day (Canada), dir. Philippe Falardeau (U.S. Premiere)
Made in EU (Bulgaria), dir. Stephan Komandarev (California Premiere)
Meadowlarks (Canada), dir. Tasha Hubbard (International Premiere)
Mr. Burton (U.K.), dir. Marc Evans (U.S. Premiere)
No Comment (Norway), dir. Petter Næss (North American Premiere)
Once Upon My Mother (France), dir. Ken Scott
Primavera (Italy), dir. Damiano Michieletto (California Premiere)
Project Y (South Korea), dir. Lee Hwan
Promised Sky (France), dir. Erige Sehiri
Renoir (Japan), dir. Chie Hayakawa
Saipan (Ireland), dirs. Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn (U.S. Premiere)
Spices and Lies (France), dir. Amine Adjina (North American Premiere)
Spit (Australia), dir. Jonathan Teplitzky (International Premiere)
Sundays (Spain), dir. Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (North American Premiere)
The Altar Boys (Poland), dir. Piotr Domalewski (North American Premiere)
The Blue Trail (Brazil), dir. Gabriel Mascaro
The Choral (U.K.), dir. Nicholas Hytner
The Condor Daughter (Bolivia), dir. Álvaro Olmos Torrico (California Premiere)
The Party’s Over (France), dir. Antony Cordier
The Richest Woman in the World (France), dir. Thierry Klifa
The Sun Rises on Us All (China), dir. Cai Shangjun (U.S. Premiere)
To the Victory! (Ukraine), dir. Valentyn Vasyanovych (U.S. Premiere)
Two Pianos (France), dir. Arnaud Desplechin (U.S. Premiere)
Youngblood (Canada), dir. Hubert Davis (U.S. Premiere)
FAMILY DAY
Presented on Jan. 11, Family Day includes the following films screened at the Mary Pickford Theater:
Arco (France), dir. Ugo Bienvenu
KPop Demon Hunters (USA), dirs. Chris Appelhans & Maggie Kang
Zootopia 2 (USA), dirs. Jared Bush & Byron Howard
This story was originally published on Nov. 7, updated on Nov. 18 and Nov. 24 with addition honorees and with the full list of films on Dec. 2.
