The Global Film Initiative wants to close the gap between Palm Springs and distant cultures of the world.
Through the Global Lens film series, GFI Director of Programs, Santhosh Daniel, hopes to "create a stronger global community through the language of cinema." Daniel continued, "Film is something emotional, visceral, striking and beautiful. It affects people in ways other mediums cannot."
The Palm Springs Art Museum supports this belief by mining the series' archives for films that span from Brazil to China. "These films are global in nature and are therefore in line with our mission of promoting diverse culture," explains Director of Communications, Kimberly Nichols.
Since 2003, GFI has focused on films that may otherwise have trouble receiving distribution. These movies are produced in emerging nations which lack strong film communities. GFI scours international festivals to find these films and learns of filmmakers by word of mouth.
In an effort to help filmmakers constrained by limited resources, the nonprofit organization provides grants biannually to a handful of those in more distant realms of the industry. Funds up to $10,000 often help with final processes such as editing and distribution.
Working with dozens of cultural institutions across the country, education becomes a primary focus. GFI believes in maintaining a broad, far-reaching goal towards cross-cultural understanding. "Images are the easiest way to communicate with one another," Daniel told The Desert Sun. "(Through film), people feel less distance from each other."
Throughout August, the Palm Springs Art Museum will be showing free screenings from the series: Brazil's Cinema, Aspirin and Vultures, South Africa's Max and Mona and China's Stolen Life. First Run Features is providing the opening film, Belgium's L'Iceberg.
"There are certain ideas and perspectives you can't experience in the every day world," Daniel proposes. "People elsewhere have stories to tell."