OPENING NIGHT EVENT

The 2024 American Documentary and Animation Film Festival will kick off its 13th annual event with the screening of Sean Penn's film, "Superpower". The film and discussion is set for the Camelot Theatres at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs, Thursday, March 21, 6 pm,  noted AmDocs Director and Founder, Teddy Grouya.

 

​

​

Superpower, USA, 115 min. (Aaron Kaufman, Sean Penn)

​

Originally conceived as an interview with the new leader of Ukraine, the film's narrative took an unexpected turn during Sean and his team's time in the country, revealing a gut-wrenching reality that remains pertinent as the struggle for freedom persists. The socio-political implications extend far beyond the borders of the conflict, adding a layer of enduring relevance to the documentary.

​

Sean Penn is a five time - Academy Award® nominee, winning twice for "Mystic River" and "Milk".  He was nominated for a DGA award for "Into The Wild".

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please support Sean's work with CORE.  AS the founder of this organization, Sean's team of responders have helped both nationally and internationally.  See more here and give to CORE.

​

Founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) was initially established as J/P HRO in response to the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Since, CORE has scaled exponentially to meet the growing needs of vulnerable communities worldwide. When crisis strikes, we work immediately to fill gaps, mobilize resources, and empower communities to address perennial cycles of poverty and disaster. CORE provides humanitarian support globally including in Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan, Pakistan and right here in the US. We’ve worked on five continents responding to natural disasters, conflict, food insecurity, climate change, disease outbreaks, and public health emergencies. Powered by local staff, our programs focus on Emergency Response & Preparedness; Addressing Climate Change; and Health Access. 

We envision a more equitable world in which underserved communities are prepared and can effectively respond to crisis from within. Learn more and support our work at: 

 

 

​

​

​

 

​

 

Past AmDocs Opening Night special guests have included the likes of:

​

-  5-time Grammy winner Dionne Warwick,

-  Oscar®-winning Director Oliver Stone,

-  Emmy-winning host of The Amazing Race Phil Keoghan,

-  legendary actor George Takei, Peter Bogdanovich, Ed Asner, Pierce Brosnan, Shia LaBeouf

-  Oscar®-nominated Director Julie Cohen, and

-  Native American activist and Oscars legend Sacheen Littlefeather, among others.

​
 

 

​