Entertainment Report
“An Exceptional Year:” 600 Volunteers Help Run Palm Springs International Film Festival
“I’ve participated for probably about seven years,” Theater Operations Volunteer Dennis Pence said.
“17 years,” Lead Volunteer Fred Kilguss shared.
“This is my first year volunteering and what I signed up for is to work at the theaters,” Theater Operations Carol Loader explained.
Whether it’s their first year or their 17th, it’s the over 600 hardworking volunteers who are the real stars of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
“You get to meet so many people, not just your fellow volunteers, but the patrons that are coming in and out of the movies and you get a chance to sometimes visit with them when they remark if the movie was excellent or maybe not so excellent,” Pence continued. “You have a lot of interaction doing theater ops.”
From theater operations to the ballot team to guest services, the festival depends on this group for its success year after year.
And hundreds of them are from right here in the valley.
“When we moved to Palm Springs 20 years ago, we knew about the International Film Festival,” Kilguss said. “It took us two years until we got around to volunteering and we’ve been doing it ever since.”
But some volunteers aren’t local.
“I’m a Canadian Snowbird so I’m a visitor to the city and I’m trying to be more involved, to be more part of the community and I thought this was a good way to do it,” Loader shared. “I love film, I believe in competition too, so it’s kind of exciting to see everybody really interested in seeing how the ratings work out and so forth.”
But when the show’s all over, the festival has a lasting impression regardless of where you’re from.
“My favorite memory so far was on the red carpet,” Loader continued. “Seeing actually some of the stars come over and engage with the fans, it was really nice.”
“I always get a kick out of the reaction of the patrons as they come out of a movie,” Pence said.
“My partner 12 years ago escorted Carey Mulligan, she was a presenter and an unknown young woman,” Kilguss explained. “Here she was last week getting a major award. You kind of feel like you grew up with her.”
If you volunteer, you also get a movie voucher each shift.
So if you’re interested in volunteering for next year’s film festival, click here to learn more.
By: Carmela Karcher
January 10, 2024
Link Copied To Clipboard!
Latest Instagram Posts
1
After the Democrats flipped control of both the House and the Senate, victorious candidates celebrated their historic wins in victory speeches across the country.
3
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black female governor in US history.
8
In July, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed in Houston by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in a traffic stop as part of a “targeted operation,” ICE said. Voters are now leaving their “I Voted” stickers at his memorial site.
18
The Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival, presented by Agua Caliente Casinos, returns November 20–22, 2026, for a weekend of hot air balloons, live music and entertainment. Saturday, November 21: 6:30 PM – Robin Thicke performs live. 7:45 PM – Festival drone light show. Tickets and more information at www.cchotairballoonfest.com. #CathedralCity #HotAirBalloonFestival #RobinThicke #AguaCalienteCasinos #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #DroneLightShow #NBCPalmSprings
21
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Do you do your holiday shopping early or late?
289
HISTORY COULD BE MADE IN COACHELLA! 🇺🇸 Denise Delgado is taking an early lead in the race for Coachella mayor. If the results hold, she would become the first woman elected mayor in the city’s 80-year history! Votes are still being counted on Election Night. #Coachella #ElectionNight #Election2026 #RiversideCounty #NBCPalmSprings
82
Tonight we are hearing from both CA District 36 State Assembly candidates, after early polling has showed that Democratic nominee Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez is currently in the lead. However with less than half the votes counted still, Jeff Gonzalez says it’s too early to tell who will win. We will have future numbers here and our website nbcpalmsprings.com #nbcpalmsprings #2026election #fyp #elections
236
BREAKING: NBC News projects Democrats have won control of the House. A major Election Night shift in Washington as Democrats secure control of the House of Representatives, changing the balance of power in Congress. What does this mean for President Trump’s agenda and the next two years in Washington? Stay with NBC Palm Springs for continuing Election Night coverage. #ElectionNight #Midterms2026 #Democrats #HouseOfRepresentatives ElectionResults NBCPalmSprin
229
Election Day is officially here and we’re closely tracking your Coachella Valley local races. Our @newsbyalondra is keeping a close eye on the city of Coachella’s mayoral and city council races. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs on air and online for your latest election coverage.
56
The California State Assembly District 36 race heats up between Jeff Gonzalez and Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez, and we have all the coverage here and on nbcpalmsprings.com #election2026 #nbcpalmsprings #district36 #fyp