21st PSIFF - Two Brunches and a Lunch.

[Gordon Parr]

The Lunch Scene at Spencer's.

Jorie Parr. Photos by Gordon Parr

It might be possible to attend a film festival without seeing a movie and still have a good time. Not that we’d ever do that, of course, but it was marvelous fun to be invited to the French Consulate and Chilean breakfasts, as well as to the windup awards announcement lunch.

It’s a chance to meet and mingle with stars and dignitaries as well as colleagues. We had a chat with the beautiful actress/comedienne, Jennifer Tilly. And also, insights from a festival veteran – he sat on the founding committee with Sonny Bono – entertainment editor Bruce Fessier.

Jennifer Tilly, gracing the awards brunch, bubbled with praise for the fest. A third-time visitor, she got involved early on. “I was here when it first started. (She was excited to meet) Sonny Bono. Oh my God, Sonny Bono! I told him it (the fest) was a great idea…for the proximity – and that it’s a destination place. Everyone likes to come here.”
Her film, “The Making of Plus One,” she proudly said, was boosted to four screenings. “The audiences here really appreciate film.” Plus she was enjoying her stay at the Colony Palms Hotel. “It’s so pretty.” She had awakened that morning to the rhythms of the Jazz brunch, wafting up from the pool patio. “Oh my God, we’re in the deep South.”

No Empanadas
The Purple Palms restaurant at the Colony was the glamorous scene of the lunch sponsored by the contingent from Chile. The frittata was delicious, but I was a little sorry they didn’t have empanadas, the speciality of that country. A Chilena guest shrugged. “And,” she said,”they served Australian wine.”
No matter, we went to talk to Bruce Fessier of the Desert Sun. His daily coverage of the fest is everybody’s guide. Bruce applauded the diversity of the lineup. He thought Sonny would be happy. After all, “he always wanted it to be the Cannes of the west.”
When the entertainment editor interviewed Richard Dreyfuss, he noted that the actor has gone off film festivals these days. Because “They’ve turned into trade shows.” He’s nostalgic for tributes to great actors – the Jimmy Stewart program came to mind – and various cinema retrospectives. Instead of just being in the business of selling movies.
Hey, Bruce really liked “Dogtooth,” the 2009 film from Greece. But Bruce, everyone hated it! No, “It was the one that resonates with me the most. And my son Clay – he’s a 4th year CalArts student - said that’s what a film festival movie should be.”
Our Knight

“Did you know Darryl Macdonald is a knight? A chevalier – that means knight.” Angela Allen, who used to work with the PSIFF executive director, told me at the French consulate breakfast at Spencer’s.
Yes, Macdonald confirmed that he’d been bestowed the honor of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French consulate general of Seattle about 8 years ago. It’s for his enduring support of French cinema. (He forgot to wear his medallion to the brunch.) Can he speak French? “Of course. I’m from Canada.”

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LEFT TO RIGHT:

Mathieu Fournet, Executive Director of the Film and TV Department of the Consulate General of France.

Christophe Vauthey, Consul for Cultural Affairs Consulate General of Switzerland.

Yanick Godbout, Charges d’Affair and director for Governmental Relatons and Public Affairs for the Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles.

Francine Bruecher, International Promotion, Swiss Films.

Georges Schmit, Consul General of Luxembourg in San Francisco.

Roland Rietmann, Vice Consul, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland.