Burbank, California, May 7th, 2012 – Today, Cinema Without Borders announced that Darryl Macdonald, Director of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Short Film Festival & Film Market and Executive Director of the Palm Springs Film Society, will be the winner of the first Cinema Without Borders annual “Friend Of International Cinema Award“.
This new award goes to a person or an organization that helps promote international cinema in the U.S.
“Darryl Macdonald, through years of working as a festival director, has been a true friend and ally of international cinema. Mr. Macdonald has introduced films from around the globe to many thousands of movie lovers. He has also created opportunities for both established and emerging international filmmakers to meet with audiences in order to connect and discuss their works. Through his many endeavors, Darryl has proved to be an invaluable champion of the finest in world cinema,” said Bijan Tehrani, Editor in Chief of Cinema Without Borders.
The award ceremony, made possible through collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute, will be held on May 10th at 7 PM at the Italian Cultural Institute, 1023 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles CA 90024.
“War,” an Italian short comedy film directed by Paolo Sassanelli, will be screened before the ceremony. The film won Cinema Without Borders’ Best International Short Film Award at the 2010 Palm Springs International Short Film Festival & Film Market.
Following the screening, Iranian-American singer, Mamak Khadem (accompanied by Giovanna Joyce Imbesi on piano) and Andréa Ferraz is Brazilian/American singer will perform. The ceremony will conclude with speeches from guest speakers concerning Mr. Macdonald and the Award.
The event will include a reception featuring appetizers provided by Shaherzad Restaurant and Italian wine.
The following organizations have joined to support this event: Consulate General of Belgium-Los Angeles, Consulate General of Finland-Los Angeles, Consulate General of Italy-Los Angeles, EGEDA U.S., Hollywood Brazilian Festival, Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, LA Irish Film Festival, Scandinavian Film Festival-LA, South East European Film Festival, LA & Ulmer Scale.
Darryl Macdonald:
Darryl Macdonald is the Director of the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Short Film Market. He is the co-founder of The Seattle International Film Festival, and was its Executive and Artistic Director from 1975 – 2003.
He served as the first Artistic Director of the Palm Springs Film Festival (1989 -1993) and the Hamptons Film Festival (1993 -1996) and was the Programming Director of the Vancouver International Film Festival (1988 -1992). He has also served as the Director of the Goodwill Games Film Festival, the Women in Cinema Festival and the Washington State Centennial Film Festival.
Mr. Macdonald has served on the Award Juries of several international film festivals and the Independent Spirit Awards. He has written articles on film and filmmaking for Variety Books, Reel News and the Hollywood Reporter, among other publications. He currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Documentary Channel, the International Film Festival Summit and is a Board member of the Seattle International Film Festival. Macdonald has been named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Republic of France for his contributions to French Cinema, presented with a Distinguished Citizen Award by the Mayor of Seattle and Event Producer of the Year Award from the N.E.P.A.
Cinema Without Borders:
Cinema Without Borders (CWB) is an online film magazine whose team of multi-national contributors highlights a broad selection of world cinema and emerging filmmakers. Drawing its strength from diverse communities of international filmmakers, film students, film festival organizers and film industry professionals, the Hollywood-based CWB offers a unique online platform for peer reviews and information about movies and film-related events. www.cinemawithoutborders.com
The Italian Cultural Institute:
The Italian Cultural Institute (IIC), Los Angeles, established in 1984 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, houses in its premises an art gallery, a theater for screenings, lectures, conferences, and concerts, as well as a library that contains over 6000 volumes and is open to the public. The Institute organizes Italian language classes at different levels, taught by native speakers. Events are produced in collaboration with local institutions in order to present Italy in all its cultural complexity, in the fields of visual arts, architecture and design, music, cinema and theater, literature, science, fashion and gastronomy.
Our Sponsors: 
ELMA (European Languages and Movies in America) is a Santa Monica based nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing European movies. ELMA’s mission is to create new avenues for better cultural understanding between the people of Europe and the USA by celebrating alternative cinema. http://www.elma.org
The Annual Polish Film Festival Los Angeles is organized by the Polish American Film Society, a non- profit organization. The specific purpose of the Festival is to promote Polish cinema in Hollywood and educate and inform the American public about Poland and Polish culture and Polish history. Every year the Festival presents feature and short films, documentaries and animations. The Festival was founded in 1999 by Vladek Juszkiewicz, who, until present, serves as its director. www.polishfilmla.org
Shahrezad Restaurant features the very best and most authentic of Persian cuisine. Shaherzad food fits perfectly with today’s lightened eating style. From a cultural point of view, Persian food has always been considered to be an art of providing enjoyment to body and mind. Shahrzad Restaurant had been catering to numerous entertainment industries related events over the last decade. http://shaherzadrestaurant.com
Event Performers: 
Called “one of the wonders of world trance music” by the Los Angeles Times, Mamak Khadem draws from her roots in the ancient poetry and music of the Persian masters, creating a bold and revolutionary new sound. Tehran-born singer has created a vibrant body of work that she hopes will inspire a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity in general, and for Persian arts in particular at a time when the great beauty of Iran’s culture is too often eclipsed by its present-day politics. Her expressive, moving voice has been heard on numerous film and television score including those for the feature films The Peacemaker, Traffic, and Dracula 2000, and The Profiler, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Battlestar Galactica TV series. www.mamak-khadem.com
Giovanna Joyce Imbesi (that accompanies Mamak by playing piano in this event), is a composer, pianist and producer based in Los Angeles, California which is home to her recording studio, TuttoMedia. As a professional musician, Giovanna has performed around the globe with musicians such as Anita Baker, Dave Koz, Stanley Jordan, Yanni and Andy Summers of The Police. As a composer, her music has been broadcast on all major television networks and performed in India, Europe, the United Arab Emirates and Cuba. She released her CD “Short Stories – piano music for healing, meditation & relaxation” and believes in the healing power of music and the power of art as vital elements of our well-being. She founded Generate Possibility, a non-profit dedicated to supporting those affected by cancer through the healing arts.
www.tuttomedia.com – www.generatepossibility.org
Andréa Ferraz is a Brazilian vocalist/composer who started her career as an Opera singer and now, together with Emerson ёCello (mandolin/guitar) and Simon Carrol (drums/percussion), embarks on a new project showcasing original songs and an eclectic mixture of Brazilian samba & choro. Andrea’s first professional recording, “Life Escapes-The world traveler”, was released by Target nationwide as a tribute to 50 years of Bossa Nova. Her solo album “D’agua” had the song “Porque” premiered in the FX-TV show “Damages”. Ferraz is proud to have participated in the Fox/Disney movie RIO and to have recently headlined the 2012’s Carnaval Exotica at Club Nokia. www.andreaferraz.com
Event Photographer is Dustin Neiderman.