Category: kesq-local-news

Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Stars and filmmakers gathered Sunday morning at the Parker Hotel in Palm Springs for Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch, held in conjunction with the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The annual event, which takes place the day after the Palm Springs International Film Awards, recognizes established industry leaders alongside emerging filmmakers shaping the future of cinema.

This year’s Creative Impact Awards honored Dwayne Johnson with the Creative Impact in Acting Award, Teyana Taylor with the Creative Impact in Breakthrough Performance Award, and Guillermo del Toro with the Creative Impact in Directing Award.

Johnson was recognized for his performance as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. Taylor was honored for her recent work on screen and her growing impact in film, while del Toro was celebrated for his continued influence as a director and storyteller.

The brunch also highlighted Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch, a list that spotlights rising filmmakers from the United States and around the world. Two of the honorees were unable to attend due to travel issues.

The 2026 Variety 10 Directors to Watch honorees are:

Akinola Davies Jr. — My Father’s Shadow

Beth de Araujo — Josephine

Jan-Ole Gerster — Islands

Sarah Goher — Happy Birthday

Dave Green — Coyote vs. Acme

Chandler Levack — Mile End Kicks

Harry Lighton — Pillion

NB Mager — Run Amok

Kristen Stewart — The Chronology of Water

Walter Thompson-Hernández — If I Go Will They Miss Me

The event underscored the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s role as a platform for celebrating both influential figures in the film industry and the next generation of creative talent.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Where Hollywood meets the desert, hundreds of fans came out for the 37th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala.

Kennedy Chun, a Timothee Chalamet fan from San Francisco, says she spent hours bedazzling a ‘Marty Supreme’ themed cereal box for a chance to see her icon.

“Did you bedazzle this yourself? Yes, it took forever, probably 30 hours,” Chun told News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij.

Shati Ghotis from the San Fernando Valley says she’s been coming to the festival for years and looked forward to seeing stars like Miley Cyrus and Adam Sandler.

Michelle Boset traveled all the way from Aruba to also get a glimpse of the stars.

News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij spoke with some Hollywood heavyweights like Ethan Hawke, who received the Career Achievement Award for his film ‘Blue Moon.’

“It means I’m grateful to be alive. If you stick around long enough, people are nice to you,” Hawke said.

Sentimental Value stars Elle Fanning and Renate Reinsve also made their Palm Springs debuts.

Rose Byrne of ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ receiving the Breakthrough Performance Award, sharing her secret on how she stayed in character on set.

“It was such a gift. It was such an opportunity. I just didn’t want to mess it up,” Byrne said.

Other huge stars like Michael B Jordan and Miley Cyrus riling up the crowds.

The biggest star of the night Adam Sandler receiving the Chairman’s Award for his role in ‘Jay Kelly.’

News Channel 3 asking the star if he’s hit up any of his local golf courses yet.

“Not on this drive, but I’ve been out there a bunch of times. It’s awesome,” Sandler said.

It was an appearance that left one fan in tears.

“He’s just someone that you look up to your whole life and to be able to actually see him as he takes the time to actually sign everyone’s thing and go down, up and down the line was really cool,” Jen Wottge said.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Hundreds of visitors were stranded overnight at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway after an unexpected stoppage Friday evening forced operations to halt for hours, according to tramway officials.

News Channel 3 first reported on the Tramway’s technical issues last week.

Greg Purdy, VP of Marketing & Public Affairs, said the stoppage happened around 8 p.m. on January 2.

“Operations were suspended and the six passengers waiting to board (to go up) were provided refunds,” Purdy said. “At that time, 568 guests were already at the Mountain Station.”

Per Tramway stoppage procedures, boarding tokens were distributed so guests would not have to stand in line.

“Also, per stoppage procedures, complimentary beverages were provided within the first hour and complimentary food was provided within the second hour,” Purdy said. “Blankets and children’s coloring books were also provided.”

Still, some visitors reached out to News Channel 3 describing a confusing and stressful night with little communication.

Amanda Ferrise said she and her family boarded the 7 p.m. tram.

When they were ready to leave, she said they were told the wait to descend would be less than an hour. Instead, they remained at the Mountain Station until nearly 3 a.m.

“There was no broad announcement of what was happening or how long it would be or anything to that effect,” Ferrise said. “We started seeing people getting comfortable, children laying on the floor.”

Purdy said that at approximately 12:30 a.m., the system was deemed safe to operate at a reduced speed.

“Patrons began being transported to the Valley Station with the final tram car departing at 4:30 a.m.,” Purdy said. “Refunds were offered by calling the marketing office. The Tramway remained closed on January 3 while the Tram Systems team continued to investigate and make all necessary repairs. After extensive testing, normal operations resumed at 8:00 a.m. on January 4.”

Ferrise said the process of getting down was chaotic, with crowding and confusion as groups were called.

“We were supposed to go by letter groups, but there was no enforcement of lines,” Ferrise said. “People started pushing their way through”

She added the ride down was closer to 30 to 45 minutes.

Purdy apologized for the delay and emphasized safety as their top priority.

“We regret the long delay in returning to the Valley Station that night and hope our visitors understand that safety is always the overriding concern with tramway operations,” Purdy said.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – KGAY radio is officially moving its signal from 106.5 FM to 103.1 FM, a stronger FM signal that will allow for broader reach, from Cabazon to the Salton Sea.. 2026 marks KGAY’s eighth year serving Palm Springs.

“What really prompted it was we were looking at our anniversary year coming up on our eighth year of starting our service, we decided that KGAY was the stronger of the two stations and we really wanted it on the stronger frequency,” says Brad Fuhr, the founder and CEO of the station.

When listeners tune in to 106.5, they’ll hear a new radio station, also ran out of KGAY’s studios. It’s called Sunny 106.5. “They are complementary in the format,” Fuhr says. The founder says that Sunny 106.5 is geared towards women who enjoy music from the early 2000s.

Fuhr hopes that switching KGAY to a stronger FM signal can cement their place in the Coachella Valley’s radio market. KGAY has has been voted “Favorite Radio Station” for seven years in a row in the Coachella Valley Independent’s annual readers’ poll.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Hollywood’s biggest stars gathered Saturday night for the 37th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, celebrating iconic performances.

Rose Byrne earned the Breakthrough Performance Award for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

The cast of Sentimental Value taking home the International Star Award.

Marty Supreme director Josh Safdie introducing Timothée Chalamet who received the Spotlight Actor of the Year Award .

“One of the messages of Marty Supreme, someone’s dream, taking their fate hostage, looking 10 people dead in the face who have just said to you, no it’s not possible and responding, but I will,” Chalamet said. “Thank you, Josh, for your words tonight and on the page. Thank you for this opportunity. I mean it.”

The Visionary Award went to Frankenstein — with director Guillermo del Toro and stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth honored for their bold creative vision.

“Just watching that back, I was really moved and I realized how kind of grateful I am seeing the way that the film was made, and that I get to have those memories for the rest of my life,” Elordi said.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the award ceremony.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Some of Hollywood’s biggest names gathered for the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Awards Saturday! Watch the Awards Gala below:

This year’s honorees and presenters include:

Honoree
Award
Presenter
Past Honorees

Rose ByrneIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress
Meghann Fahy
Mikey Madison, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Brie Larson, Danielle Deadwyler, Jennifer Hudson

Renate Reinsve,Stellan Skarsgård,Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas,and Elle FanningSentimental Value
International Star Award
Joachim Trier
Nicole Kidman, Michelle Yeoh, Penélope Cruz, Carey Mulligan, Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem, Helen Mirren

Guillermo del Toro(director), Oscar Isaac,Jacob Elordi, Mia GothFrankenstein
Visionary Award

Danis Villeneuve, Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Danny Boyle, Michel Hazanavicius, Tom Hooper, Tom McCarthy, Richard Linklater

Ethan HawkeBlue Moon
Career Achievement Award
Mahershala Ali
Nicole Kidman, Annette Bening, Spike Lee, Laura Dern, Sally Field, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson

Chloé Zhao (director)Jessie Buckley andPaul MescalHamnet
Vanguard Award
Jane Fonda
Emilia Perez, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Fabelmans, Belfast, Green Book, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine, Shape of Water

Amanda SeyfriedThe Testament of AnnLee
Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress
Ethan Hawke
Angelina Jolie, Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Renée Zellweger, Olivia Colman, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore,

Michael B. JordanSinners
Icon Award, Actor
Colman Domingo
Willem Dafoe, Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, and Tom Hanks

Miley Cyrus“Dream As One” –Avatar: Fire & Ashsoundtrack
Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award
Jack Champion
Inaugural year*

Adam SandlerJay Kelly
Chairman’s Award
Laura Dern
Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Billie Eilish+ Finneas O’Connell, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Regina King,

Kate HudsonSong Sung Blue
Icon Award, Actress
Rob Marshall
Glenn Close and Meryl Streep

Timothée ChalametMarty Supreme
Spotlight Award, Actor
Josh Safdie
Colman Domingo, Brendan Fraser, Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield

Leonardo DiCaprioOne Battle After Another
Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor
Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Regina Hall
Adrian Brody, Cillian Murphy, Colin Farrell, Riz Ahmed, Adam Driver, Bradley Cooper, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth, Matthew McConaughey, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt

DiCaprio missed the ceremony due to Venezuela air restrictions, according to Variety. DiCaprio accepted the award in a prerecorded message,

PSIFF Red Carpet Interviews:

Follow along on the KESQ Instragram page for more from the red carpet!

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage and interview clips.

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Kendall Flynn

Update – 4:20 p.m.

The FAA ground stop impacting flights at Palm Springs International Airport has been lifted.

Departures and arrivals will begin to slowly resume, though delays are expected to continue as operations normalize. Travelers should continue to monitor flight status directly with their airline.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs International Airport is announcing cancelled flights for Saturday travelers.

PSP reports the ground stop is due to an Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control issue affecting Southern California airspace.

News Channel 3 received numerous calls from travelers who claimed flights were cancelled. We reached out to PSP and received the following statement:

“Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is experiencing impacts today due to a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control issue affecting Southern California airspace. At this time, departing flights are not operating due to a ground stop. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted, and delays and schedule disruptions are expected. This issue is not specific to PSP and is affecting multiple Southern California airports. PSP continues to work closely with airline partners and the FAA, which is managing the situation. Travelers should contact their airline directly for the latest flight information. PSP will share additional updates as needed.”– Palm Springs International Airport

Stay with News Channel 3 for updates and to hear from travelers.

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Daniella Lake

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – First Tee Coachella Valley is hosted its PositiviTEE No Boundaries open house event at the Golf Center in Palm Desert. The program’s mission is to empower youth with special needs and disabilities through golf.

Officials say that their winter session of the program is currently full, but they’re hoping to add more class times. First Tee Coachella Valley says that with more class times, they’ll need more volunteer coaches. Here’s a link to their website if you’re interested in volunteering.

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Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) While Hollywood tallies up holiday box office totals, a local theater in Palm Springs is celebrating a milestone of its own.

Festival of Theaters says it just posted its best day ever in operations, a notable achievement for a theater that has only been open about a year. The record-setting holiday turnout comes as the Palm Springs International Film Festival begins screenings across the city.

“We had our busiest day ever on Christmas Day,” said Zack Solomon, general manager of Festival of Theaters. 

The theater reopened last year after transitioning from a former Regal Cinema into an independent, boutique moviegoing experience focused on a mix of commercial releases, independent films, and more.

This holiday season, Solomon says the biggest driver of crowds wasn’t just a blockbuster.

He said the strong turnout was largely for Marty Supreme, which he says has delivered full houses night after night. 

“We have Avatar playing, it’s been doing well, but Marty Supreme has been full houses,” Solomon said. 

Nationally, films like Avatar: Fire and Ash continue to drive holiday ticket sales, but Solomon says Festival of Theaters audience tends to gravitate toward adult dramatic programming and independent releases.

Outside the theater, moviegoers lined up not only for mainstream films, but also for international and documentary screenings tied to the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

“We come every year,” said one attendee visiting from Newfoundland, Canada, while waiting for a festival screening.

Festival of Theaters is hosting multiple festival screenings this weekend and into next week, welcoming audiences eager for stories from around the world and treating moviegoing as more than just entertainment.

In an era increasingly dominated by streaming and scrolling, this holiday week offered a reminder that the theatrical experience still resonates.

Because sometimes the best holiday tradition isn’t under the tree, it’s under the marquee.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – The Palm Springs International Film Festival is kicking off its 37th year Friday night with Calle Malaga, this years opening screening.

Directed by Maryam Touzani, the film stars Carmen Maura as an 80 year old woman in Tangier fighting to hold on to her home and her sense of self after her estranged daughter arrives to sell her beloved childhood home. 

Touzani is expected to attend opening night alongside festival leadership and local officials.

The festival will screen 170 films from 72 countries and territories, including 53 premieres from Jan. 2 to 12.

For the first time, Cathedral City is a part of the festival, now happening in 3 valley cities.

The City of Palm Springs is a title sponsor of the festival, which has become a major stop on the awards-season circuit while continuing to spotlight emerging voices from around the world.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage. 

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