There are movies—and then there are movies as they were meant to be seen.
This spring, the latter returns to the Coachella Valley as the Palm Springs 70mm Fest, presented by MUBI, makes its highly anticipated comeback May 29–31, 2026, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s Historic Camelot Theatre.
After a successful debut in 2025, the festival quickly established itself as a must-attend event for cinephiles and curious newcomers alike. Its mission is simple but powerful: to celebrate the art of large-format cinema in its most breathtaking form—70mm film.
A Format Unlike Any Other
Widely regarded as the gold standard of film presentation, 70mm offers an experience that digital simply can’t replicate. The format delivers extraordinary clarity, richer colors, and a level of detail that pulls audiences deeper into every frame.
Today, only a few dozen theaters across the United States are equipped to screen 70mm prints—making festivals like this not just special, but increasingly rare.
And there may be no better venue for it than Palm Springs’ own Historic Camelot Theatre.
Originally built in 1967 as a prestige roadshow theater, the Camelot was designed specifically for large-format exhibition. Now operated by the Palm Springs Cultural Center, the venue continues that legacy with its massive curved screen and meticulously maintained vintage Norelco AA-II projectors—offering one of the most authentic 70mm viewing experiences in California.
A Lineup Worth the Big Screen
This year’s lineup reads like a love letter to cinema history, featuring a mix of sweeping epics and iconic storytelling:
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Director’s Cut), screened from a new 70mm print. Opening night special presentation — May 29
• 2001: A Space Odyssey — May 30
• Boogie Nights — May 30
• The Searchers — May 30
• Lawrence of Arabia — May 31
• West Side Story (1961) — May 31
“We saw such an enthusiastic response from audiences at last year’s festival,” said producer Lauren Wolfer. “There’s something incredibly special about seeing these movies in 70mm on a huge screen. The Historic Camelot Theatre was built for this format, and it’s incredible that we have this here in the Coachella Valley.”
A Growing Cultural Moment
Beyond the films themselves, the Palm Springs 70mm Fest reflects a broader resurgence of interest in analog formats and communal viewing experiences. In an era dominated by streaming, events like this offer something increasingly rare: the chance to slow down, sit in a darkened theater, and experience cinema as a shared spectacle.
It’s not just nostalgia—it’s preservation, appreciation, and rediscovery.
Plan Your Visit
Tickets for the Palm Springs 70mm Fest are on sale now, with early bird pricing available through May 8 and a limited number of all-access festival passes up for grabs.
The festival is presented by MUBI and supported by NBC Palm Springs, Paul Bar, and The Physical Media Society.
The Palm Springs Cultural Center
2300 E Baristo Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92262
For tickets and the full schedule, visit ps70mmfest.org
