Thursday, April 12----Few places in the world have the instant recognition and the glamorous reputation of Palm Beach, on the fabled Gold Coast of Florida. A playground for the rich and famous for more than a century, Palm Beach (and its sister city West Palm Beach and surrounding towns Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth and others) has also built its reputation over the years as a place of cultural excellence and diversity. Those qualities are on abundant display as the Palm Beach International Film Festival begins its twelfth edition next week (April 19 - 26).

As one of the growing regional festivals in the US, the Palm Beach International Film Festival hosts filmmakers, celebrities, industry executives, and press from around the world. Attendance over the past two years has increased over 50 percent to nearly 40,000 attendees. Founded in 1996 by Commissioner Burt Aaronson and local philanthropist George Elmore, both men had a vision that a film festival would be both a cultural boon to the community and a tremendous fundraiser for educational film and television programs. The Festival has a unique commitment to education, having raised over one million dollars in the past decade that have been donated to area school’s film and television programs in the forms of grants and scholarships. The Festival also provides intensive seminars, workshops and “hands-on” experience with filmmakers and professionals from all areas of the industry. A Student Showcase of Films is one of the highlights of the week-long Festival.

Philanthropy aside, the Festival has also been a magnet for top celebrities and filmmakers, including Academy Award® winners Adrien Brody, Anthony Hopkins, Tommy Lee Jones, Faye Dunaway, Dennis Hopper, Louise Fletcher and Michael Caine; Academy Award® nominees Salma Hayek, Edward Norton, Robert Evans, Sylvester Stallone, Woody Harrelson and Burt Reynolds. Past Festival honorees have included Roger Moore, Faye Wray, Esther Williams, Anouk Aimee, Samuel L. Jackson, Cyd Charisse, Richard Zanuck, William Friedkin, Brett Ratner, Jacqueline Bisset, Michael Clarke Duncan and Rod Steiger.

Brett Ratner, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson

The Festival is now a major showcase of films from newly emerging American independent talents, as well as established filmmakers from around the world. This year, its programming mix is its most ambitious to date. And the Festival will continue its grand tradition of hosting some of the Festival circuit's most glamorous parties, as luminaries from the world of film mingle with the jet set of Palm Beach society, emerging filmmakers and local film buffs. This Online Daily Magazine will capture all the fun and excitement of the films, the filmmakers and the festivities. Log in and be part of this celebration of sun and celluloid.

Sandy Mandelberger, Palm Beach Intl FF Online Dailies Editor