Arts & Entertainment
Palm Springs International Film Festival: 'A Real Pain,' 'Better Man'
Two films kick off the 2025 PSIFF and are fueled with Academy buzz. Here's the complete list of featured films at this year's festival.
PALM SPRINGS, CA—The Palm Springs International Film Festival will kick off Thursday with an opening night screening of two films have received Academy Award buzz: "A Real Pain," and "Better Man." These are just two of many films that will be shown from now until the end of the two-week festival.
"A Real Pain," the festival's first movie of the day, was scheduled to show at 3:30 p.m., at the Annenberg Theater, and tickets were still available, per the festival's website.
"A Real Pain," the Jesse Eisenberg-directed comedy-drama about two mismatched cousins who tour Poland to gain insight into their family history, will play at the Annenberg Theater.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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 Eisenberg and Culkin.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Opening Night's featured presentation, Michael Gracey's "Better Man," would show Thursday at the Palm Springs Air Museum, Camelot 1 and the Palm Springs High School theaters at 6:30 p.m.
This film 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.
Starting Friday, festivalgoers could see other film entries:
AGENT OF HAPPINESS
More Information
APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS
More Information
AUCTION
More Information
BABYGIRL
More Information
BAD SHABBOS
More Information
BLACK DOG
More Information
BUSHIDO
More Information
COLOR BOOK
More Information
COME CLOSER
More Information
DESIRE LINES
More Information
DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT
More Information
DROWNING DRY
More Information
EVERY LITTLE THING
More Information
EVERYBODY LOVES TOUDA
More Information
GHOST TRAIL
More Information
GOOD MEN
More Information
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
More Information
HOLY MOTHER
More Information
A HOUSE IS NOT A DISCO
More Information
HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES
More Information
JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE
More Information
KILL THE JOCKEY
More Information
LIZA: A TRULY TERRIFIC ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY
More Information
MARIA
More Information
MISERICORDIA
More Information
MY FAVOURITE CAKE
More Information
MY LATE SUMMER
More Information
A NICE INDIAN BOY
More Information
OLD FOX
More Information
ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL
More Information
THE QUIET ONES
More Information
RIOJA, THE LAND OF A THOUSAND WINES
More Information
SANTOSH
More Information
SHAMBHALA
More Information
SING SING
More Information
THERE’S STILL TOMORROW
More Information
TOUCH
More Information
A TRAVELER’S NEEDS
More Information
VERMIGLIO
More Information
THE WAILING
More Information
WAVES
More Information
WHEN FALL IS COMING
More Information
WILLIAM TELL
More Information
ZURAWSKI V. TEXAS
More Information
Honored at the Jan. 13 awards show, you will see: 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.
Related:
Palm Springs International Film Festival Extends Into La Quinta Venue
Colman Domingo Earns 2nd Spotlight Award At Palm Springs Film Festival
Jacques Audiard To Receive Creative Impact in Directing Award In 2025
Timothée Chalamet Earns Chairman's Award At Palm Springs Film Festival
Nicole Kidman Earns International Star Award At Palm Springs Film Festival
Cynthia Erivo To Get Creative Impact Award AT Palm Springs Film Fest
Malcolm Washington, Coralie Fargeat Get Nod In Palm Springs
Jennifer Lopez To Be Awarded 'Legend And Groundbreaker' At 2025 PSIFF
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
