OSCAR: More On Foreign Language Race

The 22nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is the reigning festival showcase for top foreign films, a sort of Cannes in the desert that takes pride in presenting as many of the official Academy Award Foreign Language entries as possible. This year, Fest director Darryl MacDonald and programmer Helen du Toit managed to corral 40 of the 65 contenders and lured many of their filmmakers to Palm Springs for� Q&As and lots of hobnobbing.�Producer Ron Yerxa (Little Miss Sunshine), who's on the Executive Committee that selects three of the 9 semi-finalists,�told me he came to the desert just to catch up with many of these films. The Fest is like one-stop shopping.�� Friday night, �I moderated a packed-to-the-rafters turnaway post screening�Q&A at the Art Museum�with Javier Bardem, the Spanish star of� Mexico?s entry Biutiful.�(He had the audience roaring with his impressions of Woody Allen who directed him in Vicky Cristina Barcelona). At the Riviera hotel, I met up with Feo Aladag, writer/director of Germany?s powerful� Oscar hopeful When We Leave� followed by a long chat with the large Italian contingent there who had just screened their entry LaPrima Cosa Bella�(aka First Beautiful Thing). Star Micaela Ramazzotti and director Paola Virzi were excited about the standing ovation their movie �received at the Palm Springs High School auditorium. The engaging film also reportedly played very well for the Academy Foreign Language ... Read More »

Source: http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/oscar-more-on-foreign-language-race/

Elena Lyons Elisabeth Rˆhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming