The Palm Springs International Film Festival was set to begin Thursday with a pair of films receiving Academy Awards buzz.
Although the opening night screening is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the festival’s first movie of the day was scheduled three hours earlier as part of its “Talking Pictures” series. “A Real Pain,” the Jesse Eisenberg-directed comedy drama about two mismatched cousins who tour Poland to gain insight about their family history, will play at the Annenberg Theater.
Following the screening, Eisenberg, who also wrote, produced and starred in the movie, will take part in a Q&A session. His co-star, Kieran Culkin, is set to receive the Breakthrough Performer Award during the festival.
“A Real Pain” received four Golden Globe nominations ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, including acting nominations for both Eisenberg and Culkin.
Opening Night’s featured presentation, Michael Gracey’s “Better Man,” is a nontraditional biopic of British pop star Robbie Williams. The “Take That” singer is presented throughout the movie in the form of a chimpanzee, a metaphor for how he views himself as a “performing monkey.”
“Better Man” was shortlisted in the Visual Effects category for the upcoming Academy Awards, and one of its tracks, “Forbidden Road,” was nominated for Best Original Song at the Globes. “Forbidden Road” was also shortlisted for Original Song at the Oscars, but later disqualified for incorporating too many elements from Jim Croce’s 1973 single, “I Got a Name.”
After the two showings, PSIFF 2025 will continue with Friday’s awards ceremony and other films through Jan. 13. Denis Villeneuve (Visionary Award), Ariana Grande (Rising Star Award), Timothée Chalamet (Chairman’s Award), Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performer Award), Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Nicole Kidman (International Star Award), Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), the cast of “Conclave” (Ensemble Performance Award), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor) and the cast and director of Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” (Vanguard Award) will all be honored in the desert.