Palm Springs Cultural Center
Starting at USD 29
Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 at 02:30 pm - Sun, 26 Oct, 2025 at 02:30 pm (GMT-07:00)
Palm Springs Cultural Center
2300 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs, United States
Welcome to NoirCon 2025: Four Days of Film Noir, Neo-Noir and Hardboiled Writing! Join us at the Palm Springs Cultural Center from Thursday October 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM to Sunday October 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM for a thrilling event celebrating all things noir.
Buy your All-Access Pass now and save 25% over the full price! Early bird pricing ends on September 2, 2025, so please grab your passes now!
Get ready for an immersive experience filled with screenings of classic films, panel discussions with industry experts, and workshops on crafting the perfect hardboiled story. Whether you're a die-hard fan of film noir or just curious to learn more, there's something for everyone at NoirCon 2025.
Come soak up the atmosphere, mingle with fellow enthusiasts, and dive deep into the dark and mysterious world of noir. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the genre in all its glory!
Mark your calendars and get ready for a weekend of intrigue, suspense, and unforgettable stories. See you there!
Begins at Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Ends at Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Info: Doors open. You can pick up your passes, and receive your NoirCon bag.
Info: A screening of the 1945 classic, DETOUR. The 68-minute film will be followed by a 60-minute introduction, discussion, and audience Q&A led by Patrick Gatov and Robert Polito. Patrick Gatov dwells at the intersection of Palm Springs and old Hollywood history. Outside his work in advertising, he spends time with family, writes screenplays, and researches long-forgotten stories. He is currently writing a book about actor Tom Neal and his infamous 1965 M**der case. Robert Polito's most recent books are the poetry collection Hollywood & God and Farber on Film: The Complete Film Writings of Manny Farber. Hollywood & God was chosen by Barnes and Noble as one of the top five poetry books of 2010. Polito received a National Book Critics Circle Award for Savage Art: A Biography of Jim Thompson. He is also the author of the poetry collection Doubles, as well as A Reader’s Guide to James Merrill’s The Changing Light at Sandover, and a study of Byron's poetry.
Info: 60-minute dinner break so you can dine on your own in Palm Springs, CA.
Info: Kristen Lopez is a pop culture essayist, critic, and editor whose articles have appeared at Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, MTV, TCM, and Roger Ebert. She was previously the Film Editor for TheWrap and the TV Editor for IndieWire where she was nominated for a SoCal Journalism Award and National Journalism Award by the LA Press Club. She is the author of “But Have You Read the Book: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films.” Her first book, "But Have You Read the Book" debuted from TCM and Running Press in 2023. A California native, Kristen was raised in a small suburb near Sacramento and graduated with a Masters in English from CSU Sacramento. She is the creator of the classic film podcast, Ticklish Business.
Info: Dan Bronson will introduce the film, IN A LONELY PLACE (1950). Dan Bronson has had many careers: Associate Professor of English at DePauw University, Senior Story Analyst at Universal, Associate Story Editor at Filmways, Executive Story Editor at Paramount, Writer-Producer of HBO’s The Last Innocent Man and NBC’s Death of a Cheerleader, author of the memoir Confessions of a Hollywood Nobody and of two novels, Someone To Watch Over Me and its sequel Shout at the Devil.
Info: Join us after... for the Opening Night Gala.
There will be hors d'oeuvres and finger foods available, plus an open cash bar.
Your chance to meet other NoirCon attendees.
Info: A panel on producer Louis W. Kellman, featuring a video interview of Lou Kellman discussing his work on THE BURGLAR (1957), which is based on the novel by David Goodis.
Info: Moderator: Corey Roskin
Panelists: Marco Carocari, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Gary Phillips. An exciting panel of contempotary writers, moderated by Corey Roskin.
Info: 60-minute lunch break so you can dine on your own in Palm Springs, CA.
Info: THE DAVID L. GOODIS AWARD
In recognition for contributions to Noir Literature in the spirit and tradition of Philadelphia’s native son, David Loeb Goodis. The David L. Goodis Award is honored to recognize the newest recipient whose work reflects the outstanding achievements within the genre of literary noir. Award categories are reviewed each conference to make sure they are current, relevant, and reflect the working poor, the unjustly accused, fugitives, and criminals, as did the namesake of the award in his literary work.
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Previous Honorees: MEGAN ABBOTT, LAWRENCE BLOCK, KEN BRUEN, PHILIPPE GARNIER, AURÉLIEN MASSON, WALTER MOSLEY, FUMINORI NAKAMURA, and GEORGE PELECANOS
Info: Writer Megan Abbott and Producer William Horberg discuss Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley, a quintessential American character—striker, hustler, and criminal—and his cinematic legacy. They explore how films like PURPLE NOON, THE AMERICAN FRIEND, RIPLEY'S GAME, and THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY interpret his evolving nature. Horberg shares the challenging journey of adapting The Talented Mr. Ripley, emphasizing director Anthony Minghella's vision of Ripley's class anxiety and loneliness. They highlight how adaptations mirror cultural shifts, with Ripley's elusiveness resonating in an age of fluid identity. Abbott ponders Ripley's potential in the digital age, while Horberg suggests his enduring relevance lies in the 20th century, contrasting with today's "golden age of crooks."
Info: An extended dinner break so you can explore on-site Foodie Fridays (starting at 5:00 PM), where the best local food pop-ups, food trucks, and chefs bring their A-game to your plate. Or dine on your own in Palm Springs, CA. Advance Reservations with local restaurants is encouraged as restaurants on Friday night can fill up quickly.
Info: THE ANNE FRIEDBERG AWARD
For Contributions to Noir and its Preservation. The Anne Friedberg Award For Contributions To Noir And Its Preservation is honored to recognize the newest recipient whose work reflects the scholarly and theoretical noir work within film, television, literature, and/or cinema. Nominees are reviewed each conference to make sure they are participating in and cultivating new and engaging theories and thoughts about noir within varying visual and audio experiences while drawing on philosophical and theoretical source materials.
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Previous Honorees: BARRY GIFFORD, EDDIE MULLER, DANA POLAN, UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE, and SARAH WEINMAN
Info: Dennis McMillan will interview our special guests (to be announced) in a tribute to the late, inimitable David Lynch, whose groundbreaking work expanded the very definition of noir. Experience his mesmerizing LOST HIGHWAY (1997), a surrealist neo-noir masterpiece that plunges viewers into a nightmarish labyrinth of fractured identities and elusive realities. Starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, and Balthazar Getty, Lynch crafts a Möbius strip of a narrative, where a jazz musician mysteriously transforms into a young mechanic, both ensnared in a web of suspicion, desire, and menacing figures. LOST HIGHWAY is a deeply unsettling meditation on obsession, sexual insecurity, and the terrifying unreliability of memory, pushing the boundaries of traditional noir into a realm entirely Lynch's own. Prepare for a journey into the darkest corners of the psyche, where dreams and waking life bleed together and nothing is as it seems.
Info: Started in 2008 by Peter Rozovsky, this NoirCon staple features nine authors reading from their own works for nine minutes. Join us for a wonderful time hearing over ten established authors share passages under the tent-lights. Light food and drinks available at a separate cost.
Info: Join us for an early morning screening of the French Neo-noir, LE CASSE. All pass and ticket holders will receive a traditional French "little breakfast" of a croissant and coffee. Then Oren Shai will introduce the film by Henri Verneuil, LE CASSE (1971). The film is about master thief Azad (Jean-Paul Belmondo) and his crew pull off a daring emerald heist in Athens. Their escape plan is foiled when their getaway ship is delayed, leaving them vulnerable to the relentless pursuit of Abel Zacharia (Omar Sharif), a shrewd and corrupt police inspector determined to seize the jewels for himself. What ensues is a thrilling cat-and-mouse game across Athens, filled with incredible stunts and a fierce battle of wits between the two charismatic leads. Based on a David Goodis novel, this neo-noir delivers pulse-pounding action and a surprisingly cynical twist.
Info: 60-minute lunch break so you can dine on your own in Palm Springs, CA.
Info: THE JAY AND DEEN KOGAN AWARD
For Excellence. The Jay and Deen Kogan Award For Excellence is honored to recognize the newest recipient whose work reflects the preservation of literary excellence and achievement. Nominees are reviewed each conference to make sure they are participating in and cultivating a greater appreciation and pride in America’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, authoritative editions of America’s best and most significant writing within the genre of noir.
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Previous Honorees: CHARLES ARDAI, STONA FITCH, BRONWEN HRUSKA, DENNIS MCMILLAN, MARCIA MULLER, JIM NISBET, GEOFFREY O’BRIEN, OTTO PENZLER, MAX RUDIN, and JOHNNY TEMPLE
Info: Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London, delves into the fascinating origins of John Ford's 1958 police procedural, GIDEON'S DAY. Based on John Creasey's novel, the film traces a single chaotic day in the life of Scotland Yard's Detective Chief Inspector George Gideon (Jack Hawkins) as he juggles multiple cases—from police corruption to M**der and robbery—while attempting to make it home for a family concert. Wootton highlights the film's unique position, blending its British literary roots with the distinctive directorial style of American cinema legend John Ford. He explores how this "day in the life" narrative, with its blend of realism and episodic drama, marked a significant moment in British crime cinema, foreshadowing the flashier films of the 1960s, despite its often understated tone.
Info: Join us for this true crime panel at NoirCon. Burt Kearns, a seasoned producer, is currently at work on a documentary exploring the notorious Wonderland Murders. Australian writer A. Patterson, known for their true crime work (and background as a former police officer and detective), is featured, bringing their expertise to this discussion. The Wonderland Murders, a brutal 1981 quadruple homicide in Laurel Canyon, remain a deeply unsettling case, marked by its violent nature, unresolved aspects, and connections to figures in the pornography and drug underworlds of Los Angeles. Kearns's documentary, with Patterson's insights, promises to shed new light on this enduringly fascinating true crime saga.
Info: 90-minute dinner break so you can dine on your own in Palm Springs, CA. Advance Reservations with local restaurants is encouraged as restaurants on Saturday night can fill up quickly.
Info: Join us for a thrilling dive into the world of hardboiled crime with two literary powerhouses who shared a mutual respect: American author Duane Swierczynski and the late Irish master Ken Bruen. We celebrate Bruen's distinct voice with a screening of BLITZ (2012), the cinematic adaptation of his novel. Starring Jason Statham as a tough London detective on the trail of a serial killer targeting police officers, BLITZ captures Bruen's gritty, cynical world. Produced with Bruen credited as an executive producer, the film showcases the brutal realism and dark humor that made his work so influential, mirroring the visceral energy found in Swierczynski's own acclaimed novels.
Info: With Noirvember just around the corner, join us at a classic Palm Springs waterhole (TBA) to celebrate all things noir.
Info: Indulge your dark side at "A Hardboiled Brunch of Writers"! Join local novelists for a morning panel discussing the latest in noir fiction over delicious breakfast fare. Free for pass holders; a separate charge applies for others. Get ready for cunning plots, cynical heroes, and plenty of literary intrigue!
Info: Discover the legends resting in peace at Desert Memorial Cemetery, Cathedral City! Join our hosted tour to pay respects at the gravesites of iconic figures like Frank Sinatra, Sonny Bono, and Suzanne Somers. A unique opportunity to connect with Hollywood history in a serene desert setting. Transportation is on one's own, though we will encourage ride sharing during NoirCon for those interested in joining this unique tour.
Also check out other Arts events in Palm Springs, Entertainment events in Palm Springs, Literary Art events in Palm Springs.
Tickets for NoirCon 2025: Four Days of Film Noir, Neo-Noir and Hardboiled Writing can be booked here.
| Ticket type | Ticket price |
|---|---|
| All Access Pass (All 4 Days of NoirCon 2025) | 162 USD |
| Day 1 Pass + Gala (Thurs 10/23/25 Only) | 66 USD |
| Day 2 Pass + Noir at the Bar (Fri 10/24/25 Only) | 50 USD |
| Day 3 Pass + All Noir Party (Sat 10/25/25 Only) | 82 USD |
| Day 4 Pass + Cemetery Tour (Sun 10/26/25 Only) | 29 USD |
We have gathered all the information for you in one convenient spot, but please keep in mind that these are subject to change. We do our best to keep everything updated, but something might be out of sync. For the latest updates, always check the official event details by clicking the "Find Tickets" button.
