Palm Springs ShortFest to Premiere Michael Childers' Documentary HOLLYWOOD IN THE DESERT SKY, 6/18

The Palm Springs International Film Society's Short Fest will debut a new documentary - "Hollywood In The Desert Sky; A Conversation With Photographer Michael Childers" on June 18 at 2:00 pm at The Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. "All my life I've been photographing some of the great artists of my time," says Childers. Internationally renowned for his portraits of pop culture icons, Childers spent a lifetime of collecting art with the late John Schlesinger, Oscar-winning director of "Midnight Cowboy" and many other films of note including "Marathon Man" and "The Falcon and the Snowman." They were partners for 37 years and that life culminated in an art collection that filled their Rancho Mirage home.

In this short film, Mary Silverman interviews Childers in his new high-rise apartment - his home in the desert sky - where they explore his life through pieces from his art collection, including some of his own work for Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine, Italian and English Vogue, French Elle and as a photographer on Hollywood film sets.

Childers work is featured in the National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Film Institute Library in London; Palm Springs Art Museum; Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh; Marion Center for the Photographic Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills; and Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, among many others. He also served as producer or associate producer on "Marathon Man," "Falcon and the Snowman" and "The Believers," and as a production assistant on "The Day of The Locust."

In addition to numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, locally Michael was awarded a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame and the prestigious Crystal Lens Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hollywood photography by the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The film's director, Desert Magazine editor Mary Silverman, has conducted hundreds of interviews as a producer of original television programming and magazine editorial, including telling the in-depth story-behind-the-story of some of Hollywood's most intriguing stars as a producer of the "E! True Hollywood Story" at the E! Network. Mary's prior work in the Coachella Valley includes online editor at Palm Springs Life and producer of CBS 2's "Eye on the Desert." Mary has helmed the magazine since August of 2013. Desert Magazine is a monthly publication of The Desert Sun.

For further information on this and other screenings visit www.psfilmfest.org.

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