Mayor Pougnet Hosts Middle School Students at Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala!
Contact: Amy Blaisdell Director of Communications City of Palm Springs (760) 323-8250
Jan. 7, 2009
Mayor Steve Pougnet created some stars of the City’s own at Tuesday night’s 20th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala – when eight lucky middle school students with an interest in film and entertainment walked the star-studded Red Carpet as his special guests.
“It was amazing!” said Kalina Robles, a middle schooler involved in the City’s Parks and Recreation programs. “I felt really special.”
“I felt so important, it was fun to see all the stars,” said Lexi Kassler who has acted in school plays at St. Theresa’s and was particularly excited about meeting her idol -- actress Anne Hathaway. ”She’s my favorite.”
Pougnet and Students on Red Carpet
As the Title Sponsor of the festival, this was the second year in a row that Pougnet invited students to attend the black-tie Gala hosted by “Entertainment Tonight’s” Mary Hart at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
-1- “Last year was such a success… there was no doubt in my mind that I had to do it again,” Pougnet said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience that the kids really appreciate. They get a chance to see movie stars and mingle like adults in an amazing setting.”
Pougnet met the students and their parents for formal pictures at City Hall before they arrived at the Convention Center to walk the Red Carpet.
Actress Anne Hathaway Poses with Students
The eight lucky students chosen to attend the Gala included Alexandria Croom, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, Lexi Kassler, St. Theresa’s, Ashley Oertel and Maeson Pellum, Raymond Cree Middle School, Ben Simonds and Haylea Trost, Palm Springs YMCA, Kalina Robles, City of Palm Springs Recreation Program, and Cheyenne Tweed, Desert Chapel.
“I’m just thrilled I can give them this awesome experience,” Pougnet said. “Who knows maybe it will inspire one of them to become the next Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, or Ron Howard.”
In fact some of the big name celebrities honored at Tuesday night’s Awards Gala included DiCaprio, Winslet and Howard -- as well as Sean Penn, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Dakota Fanning – and many more!
Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, the festival -- which runs Jan. 6- 19 -- features a lineup of more than 200 films from 60 countries and is one of the largest in North America. It is also seen by American distributors as one of the best Academy Award campaign marketing tools.
For more information or a list of films and ticket prices, visit the City’s Web site at www.palmspringsca.gov and click on Palm Springs International Film Festival or go to the festival’s Web site at www.psfilmfest.org.
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