(From left) Director Shiloh Strong, writer Alexandra Barreto and director Rider Strong, all with the film “Method” at the opening night of the Palm Springs International ShortFest at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs on Tuesday. / Richard Lui The Desert Sun
Sunny Grace (center), producer of “dik,” stands with Palm Springs International ShortFest executive director Darryl Macdonald and programming director and festival curator Kathleen McInnis during the opening night of the Palm Springs International ShortFest at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. / Richard Lui The Desert Sun
If you go
What: The Palm Springs International ShortFest
When: Today-Monday.
Where: Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs.
Tickets: $9 for programs before 3 p.m., $10 for later screenings and panels. Closing night films and parties $25.
Information: (760) 778-8979 or psfilmfest.org
MORE ONLINE: Read film reviews and watch trailers at mydesert.com/shortfest
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The Palm Springs International ShortFest opened with a full house echoing with belly laughs Tuesday.
ShortFest executive director Darryl Macdonald said festival attendees can expect laughter to be this year's trend.
“Comedies are up,” Macdonald said of the 331 short films featured in the festival. “We have more comedies submitted to us and I've booked more comedies than I can recall in recent years at ShortFest. So the zeitgeist is turning happy again.”
The opening night program, Make 'Em Laugh, featured 12 films from such disparate nations as Norway, Australia and the Netherlands.
A typically film industry-heavy audience filled the main auditorium of the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs, but Macdonald said it was unusual that filmmakers from most of the films also attended.
Andrew Simkiss, director of “The Amy Character,” screening again at 4 p.m. today as part of the Art Attack program, said this is the fourth festival that has presented his film, but it's the first one he and his two New York-based cast members have attended.
“I feel like, for shorts, this is one of the top five (festivals),” he said, “and it's always nice to come here.”
“Even in 110-degree heat,” co-star Emily Davis added.
The heat didn't prevent people from standing in the rush line in hopes of last-minute tickets opening up. Janice Jarzabek, the chairwoman of the little Sandpoint Film Festival in Sandpoint, Idaho, had an all-access pass, but waited in the line with her husband.
“It's freezing up north,” she said, “so I'm down here and I welcome the dry heat.”
