Greta Gerwig will receive the DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 5, 2024.

Actress, writer, directer Greta Gerwig will be the first American woman to head the 77th Cannes jury.  I remember first seeing Greta at the SXSW film festival where she appeared in a  “mumblecore film”, and credits the festival for giving her,  her start in the business.  

Will this be the year of the woman?  Certainly this award season offers film from some of the greatest living directors.  Wim Wenders film, “Perfect Days,” won Cannes Best actor category, but the film has not received any award season love. ”Fallen Leaves,” Aki Kaurismäki, the 66-year-old Finnish director won the Jury award in Cannes, will be showing in Palm Springs along with 179 films from 73 countries. The Cannes Jury award  "honor works of artistic quality which witnesses to the power of film to reveal the mysterious depths of human beings through what concerns them, their hurts and failings as well as their hopes.” 

Another great woman director who I met at the Director’s Guild of American when there seemed to be only 12 women members is Agnieszka Holland.  She was there with her film “Angry Harvest,” and went to the direct for Frances Ford Coppla, “Secret Gardens,” “Europa Europa,” which was nominated for an Academy Award.  This year Agnieszka will receive a lifetime achievement award for her body of work.  It is so wonderful to see women recognized along with their peers.