Palm Springs International Film Festival to Honor Cronenberg, Gyllenhaal and London

The 17th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will honor David Cronenberg with its 'Visionary Award,' Jake Gyllenhaal with the event's Desert Palm Achievement Award,' and Academy Award nominee Michael London with its 'Producer of the Year Award,' at the festival's annual awards gala, announced PSIFF board chairman Earl Greenburg. The awards gala will once again star Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart on Saturday, January 7th at the new Palm Springs Convention Center. The event will also honor Terrence Howard with the 'Rising Star Award.' Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, the PSIFF is scheduled from January 5-16. The event will include more than 200 films from approximately 60 countries including a majority of the films submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards, as well as a large number of American independent and international features and documentaries. [Brian Brooks]