The Palm Springs International Film Society has announced its approval for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This grant will be used to support the ongoing Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International ShortFest. The funds will aid in their mission to serve venues in Palm Springs and reach larger audiences in the Coachella Valley. The NEA is set to award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling over $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants.
NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, praised the projects, stating, “Projects like the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International ShortFest exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts.” She further emphasized that investments in art and design advance various aspects of communities such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and economy.
Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi expressed his gratitude for being a recipient of this year's NEA grant. He mentioned that these funds would support both their flagship Palm Springs International Film Festival and upcoming Palm Springs International ShortFest. Chandi highlighted their commitment to fostering love for media arts through educational programs and presenting domestic and world cinema to their community.
The grant will significantly support both festivals' efforts to captivate audiences across the desert landscape while nurturing emerging talents in media arts. This includes events like Student Screening Day at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where high school students from Coachella Valley engage with esteemed filmmakers through screenings paired with panel discussions. Additionally, it will enhance events like the ShortFest Forum that provides industry professionals with workshops, panels, and roundtable discussions on various topics relevant to filmmaking.
The 30th annual Palm Springs International ShortFest is scheduled for June 18-24, 2024, and the 36th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will take place from January 2-13, 2025. For more information on both events, visit www.psfilmfest.org or call the festival headquarters at (760) 778-8979.
For further details on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
The Palm Springs International Film Society is a charitable non-profit organization that aims to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. It produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. To learn more about the Palm Springs International Film Society and its festival events, please visit https://www.psfilmfest.org.