David Charles Rodrigues’ “Gay Chorus Deep South” Doc Wins Audience Award at Palm Springs Film Fest

David Charles Rodriguesis the audience’s choice…

The part-Brazilian filmmaker and equal rights activist’s latest film has picked up an audience award at this year’s Palm Springs Film Festival.

David Charles Rodrigues

Rodrigues’ Gay Chorus Deep Southtook home the Audience Award for Best Documentary.

The film centers on the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, who embarks on a tour of the American Deep Southin response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws and the divisive 2016 election.


Peruvian filmmaker Melina León took home the New Voices / New Visions Award for her film Song Without A Name.

Colombian-Ecuadorian filmmaker Alejandro Landes took home the Ibero-American Award for his acclaimed film Monos.

Mexican filmmaker David Zonanaearned a special mention for his latest project, Workforce.

This year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival ran from January 2-13, screening 192 films from 81 countries. 

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan)
Director Pawo Choyning Dorji

Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
Gay Chorus Deep South (USA)
Director David Charles Rodrigues

FIPRESCI Prize for Best International Feature Film of the Year
Beanpole (Russia)
Director Kantemir Balagov

FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor in an International Feature Film
Bartosz Bielenia Corpus Christi (Poland)

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress in an International Feature Film
Helena Zengel System Crasher (Germany)

FIPRESCI Prize for International Screenplay
Parasite (South Korea)
Screenwriters Bong Joon-Ho and Han Jin-Won

Special Mention: Antigone (Canada), Screenwriter Sophie Deraspe

New Voices/New Visions Award
Song Without A Name (Peru/Spain/USA/Chile)
Director Melina León

The Documentary Award
Talking About Trees (France/Sudan/Germany/Chad/Qatar)
Director Suhaib Gasmelbari

Ibero-American Award
Monos (Colombia)
Director Alejandro Landes

Special Mention: Workforce (Mexico)
Director David Zonana

Local Jury Award
Adam (Morocco)
Director Maryam Touzani

Young Cineastes Award
Corpus Christi(Poland)
Director Jan Komasa

GoEnergistics (GoE) Bridging the Borders Award
Advocate (Israel/Canada/Switzerland)
Director Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaiche

Special Mention: The Australian Dream (Australia), Director Daniel Gordon