By Elliot V. Kotek
Editor-at-Large
(Jan. 13, 2010)

G'day indeed.

Talk in the Renaissance hospitality suite had shifted from Mariah to the earlier news that festival director Daryl MacDonald had refused to kowtow to suggestions from the Chinese consulate to pull a Tibetan documentary from the Palm Springs line-up. In the end, like similar happenings at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2009, the presence of a film, in this case "The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet's Struggle for Freedom," had so incensed the Chinese that films from Chinese filmmakers were pulled from the festival in protest.

The mood definitely became more festive with the focus of the fest shifting firmly to the weekend's presentation of a dozen films from downunder. And the best get for this Aussie expatriate was time at the International Reception, hosted by Taurus Entertainment at the Hotel Zoso. The rose martinis flowed faster than the mac n' cheese, and I managed a colonial catch-up with:
- actress-turned-director Rachel Ward ("Beautiful Kate");
- Ward's husband, actor and producer Bryan Brown ("Cocktail," "FX," "Breaker Morant");
- producer and "The Balibo Conspiracy" director Robert Connolly;
- "Lucky Country" actor Aden Young; and
- Tom Murray, director of the documentary "In My Father's Country."

Ryôichi Kimizuka, the director of Japan's Oscar entry "Nobody to Watch Over Me," was one of many other highly regarded foreign Oscar contenders in the crowd, and the folk behind the monster Scandinavian blockbuster "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" were fresh off a sold-out, lines-around-the-block screening at the Palm Springs High School's impressive auditorium. But it was the Aussies who had finally turned the spotlight of the festival away from the Mariah Carey gaffe and on to the international cinematic offerings of this 21st outing of the festival. Adding to the effect of the nocturnal Australian onslaught was the chance meeting I'd enjoyed earlier in the day, sharing a spring water or two with the director of Australia's Oscar contender, indigenous filmmaker (and first-time feature helmer) Warwick Thornton, as well as "Blessed's" talented director, Ana Kokkinos.

Another highlight of the festival was programmer Alissa Simon's scheduling of a hike/walk along the Palm Canyon trail with a tribal ranger, Raven Longbow. Although Longbow is Cherokee, his sense of humor and his knowledge of the practices of the local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians was an absolute gift to the dozen or so hikers (including cult movie figure Udo Kier, who now lives in the area). While film festivals bring bands of outsiders to their cities, some focus so entirely on film that they forget to showcase their local area, but with the mountainous backdrop to the City of Palm Springs and walking tours on offer for visiting filmmakers, the festival has indeed found the right balance.

Of course, movies have also been the order of the day. While I liked the Swedish version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," I'll hold my review for Scott Rudin's production of it for Sony. You can check out my thoughts on the adaptation of Chekhov's "Ward No.6" [whose director also shared his thoughts with Moving Pictures in "Modern Resonance of ‘Ward No. 6'"] and stay tuned for more reviews from Palm Springs; the fest continues through January 18!

Until then, enjoy your festivities.

Photos by Elliot V. Kotek