36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Announces Three Desert Award Winners

The 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival revealed juried winners in Desert Views, Young Cineastes, & Bridging the Borders categories

Checkpoint Zoo receives Desert Views Award; Tatami receives Young Cineastes Award; Souleyman’s Story receives Bridging The Borders Award

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA ( January 8, 2025 ) -

Today, the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) announced three of this year’s juried award winners, including those in the Desert Views, Young Cineastes, and Bridging the Borders categories. The Festival continues from January 2-13, 2025, screening 165 films from over 71 countries, including 68 premieres. The line-up includes 35 of the International Feature Film Oscar Submissions along with Talking Pictures, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, True Stories, World Cinema Now, and more.

In these categories, the winners include:

Desert Views Award

Awarded by the Desert Views Jury made up of locals to a film that, in the spirit of neighborliness, promotes understanding and acceptance among people. The films in competition were as follows:

  • “Checkpoint Zoo” (United States/Ukraine), Director Joshua Zeman
  • “Desert Angel” (United States), Director Vincent DeLuca
  • “Every Little Thing” (Australia), Director Sally Aitken
  • “Tinã (Mother)” (New Zealand), Director Miki Magasiva

    • Desert Views Award Winner: “Checkpoint Zoo” (United States/Ukraine), Director Joshua Zeman
    Desert Views Special Mention: “Desert Angel” (United States), Director Vincent DeLuca

    The films were judged by Jose Macias (“Desert Hot Springs”), Margaret Quirante (“Morongo Valley”), Matt Ramirez (“Cathedral City”), Tanisha L. Alston (“Palm Desert”), and Sohelia Crane (“Palm Desert”).

    Young Cineastes Award
    The Young Cineastes jury is composed of high school students with a passion for cinema. The films in competition were as follows:

  • “Superboys of Malegaon” (India/United States), Director Reema Kagt
  • “Tatami” (Georgia/Israel/Iran), Directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv
  • “Trifole” (Italy/South Africa/United States), Director Gabriele Fabbro
  • “Unstoppable” (United States), Director William Goldenberg

    • Young Cineastes Award Winner: “Tatami” (Georgia/Israel/Iran), Directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv
    Young Cineastes Special Mention: “Superboys of Malegaon” (India/United States), Director Reema Kagti

    The films were judged by Joseph Manjarrez (“Palm Springs High School”), Lyla Valentine (“Palm Desert High School”), and Stephanie Lopez (“Palm Springs High School”).

    Bridging The Borders Award
    At a time when physical, religious, racial, cultural, and economic borders divide the population of our planet, efforts to bridge those borders should be appreciated. In that spirit, Cinema Without Borders presents the Bridging the Borders Award sponsored by 360 MEDIA to a film that is most successful in bridging and connecting the people of our world closer together. The winner of the 2025 Bridging the Borders Award presented by Cinema Without Borders and sponsored by 360 Media will receive a cash award of $2000. The films in competition were as follows:

  • “Dahomey” (Senegal), Director Mati Diop
  • “Ghost Trail” (France/Germany/Belgium), Director Jonathan Millet
  • “Happy Holidays” (Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar), Director Scandar Copti
  • “Odd Fish” (Iceland/Finland/Czech Republic), Director Snævar Sölvason
  • “Reading Lolita in Tehran” (Italy/Israel), Director Eran Riklis
  • “Souleymane’s Story” (France), Director Boris Lojkine
  • “Tatami” (Georgia/Israel/Iran), Directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv
  • “Tinã (Mother)” (New Zealand), Director Miki Magasiva
  • “To a Land Unknown” (United Kingdom/ Palestine/France/Greece/Netherlands/Germany/Qatar/Saudi Arabia), Director Mahdi Fleifel
  • “Touch” (Iceland), Director Baltasar Kormákur

    • Bridging the Borders Award: “Souleymane’s Story” (France), Director Boris Lojkine
    Bridging the Borders Special Mention: “Happy Holidays” (Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar), Director Scandar Copti

    The films were judged by Abbas Yari, Ali Murat Erkorkmaz, Bijan Tehrani, Granaz Moussavi, Keely Badger, Marcy Garriott, Michael Franck, Matt Ferro, Susan Morgan Cooper, and Vladek Juszkiewicz.

    Additional jury award winners for the FIPRESCI Prize for films in the International Feature Film Oscar Submissions program, Best Documentary Award for compelling non-fiction filmmaking, New Voices New Visions Award for unique viewpoints from first- and second-time directors, Ibero-American Award for the best film from Latin America, Spain or Portugal, Local Jury Award for the film which promoted understanding and acceptance between people for a film that is successful in bringing the people of our world closer together, and Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature will be announced on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

    About the Palm Springs International Film Society
    The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. In addition to curating the best in international cinema, PSIFF’s Film Awards has come to be known as the first stop on the campaign trail for the Academy Awards, and our Oscar-qualifying ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America. Our festivals, year-round member screenings and educational programs manifest our organization’s mission by nurturing and encouraging new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema, and expanding audience horizons. The City of Palm Springs is the title sponsor of both festivals. The Film Awards are presented by Silvercrest, and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.