2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival reveals lineup of 168 films

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is set to welcome Hollywoods top contenders once again. On December 2, the festival revealed its complete schedule for the 2026 edition, running from January 2 to January 11.

The opening-night film will be Calle Malaga, directed by Maryam Touzani, while the festival will conclude with Glenrothan directed by Brian Cox. A total of 168 films from 72 countries and territories will be showcased, including 53 premieres.

Awards Highlights

The festivals awards gala will take place on January 3 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Notable honorees include:

• Ethan Hawke Career Achievement Award for Blue Moon
• Leonardo DiCaprio Desert Palm Achievement Award for One Battle After Another
• Adam Sandler Chairman's Award for Jay Kelly
• Michael B. Jordan Icon Award for Sinners
• Cast of Sentimental Value International Star Award (Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgrd, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, presented by Joachim Trier)
• Hamnet Vanguard Award (Chlo Zhao, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal expected)
• Amanda Seyfried Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for The Testament of Ann Lee

Past Chairmans Award recipients include Timothe Chalamet, Amy Adams, George Clooney, Viola Davis, Billie Eilish, Finneas OConnell, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Regina King, Gary Oldman, and Reese Witherspoon.

Festival Screenings

The festival will feature films in multiple programs, including International Feature Film submissions, director discussions, genre films, independent American films, documentaries, curated classics, and world and North American premieres.

Selected International Feature Films

• 100 Liters of Gold (Finland), dir. Teemu Nikki
• 2000 Meters to Andriivka (Ukraine), dir. Mstyslav Chernov
• A Sad Beautiful World (Lebanon), dir. Cyril Aris
• A Useful Ghost (Thailand), dir. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
• All Thats Left of You (Jordan), dir. Cherien Dabis
• Eagles of the Republic (Sweden), dir. Tarik Saleh
• Familia (Italy), dir. Francesco Costabile
• Hijra (Saudi Arabia), dir. Shahad Ameen North American Premiere
• It Was Just an Accident (France), dir. Jafar Panahi
• Late Shift (Switzerland), dir. Petra Volpe
• Left Handed Girl (Taiwan), dir. Shih-Ching Tsou
• Little Trouble Girls (Slovenia), dir. Urka Djuki
• Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Denmark), dirs. David Borenstein & Pavel Talankin
• My Fathers Shadow (United Kingdom), dir. Akinola Davies
• No Other Choice (South Korea), dir. Park Chan-wook
• Palestine 36 (Palestine), dir. Annemarie Jacir
• Reedland (Netherlands), dir. Sven Bresser
• Sound of Falling (Germany), dir. Mascha Schilinski
• The Last Dance (Hong Kong), dir. Chan Mou Yin Anselm
• The Love That Remains (Iceland), dir. Hlynur Plmason
• The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile), dir. Diego Cespedes
• The Presidents Cake (Iraq), dir. Hasan Hadi
• The Sea (Israel), dir. Shai Carmeli-Pollak
• The Secret Agent (Brazil), dir. Kleber Mendona 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 Vukevi
• 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

Highlighted Programs

• Talking Pictures: Films with discussions featuring directors, writers, and actors such as King Hamlet (Oscar Isaac expected) and The Housemaid (Paul Feig expected).
• Late-Night Genre: Sharp and edgy films including Good Luck, Have Fun, Dont Die (USA) and Mrama (New Zealand).
• Independent U.S. Filmmakers: Celebrating emerging American talent.
• Documentaries: Highlighting filmmakers lives and creative processes, e.g., Boorman and the Devil and Coroner to the Stars.
• Curated Classics: Films that inspired lifelong cinema passion, selected by Diane Kruger, Leonard Maltin, Paul Feig, Therese Hayes, and Udo Kier.
• Family Day: Includes KPop Demon Hunters and Zootopia 2.

The festival remains a key stop on the path to the Academy Awards and continues to showcase a diverse range of films, from international features to documentaries, independent works, and family-friendly selections.

Author: Sophia Brooks