Palms Springs International Film Festival kicks off

(CBS) The Palm Springs International Film Festival opens today with a screening of "Salmon Fishing in Yemen," a British romantic comedy starring Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor.

The 23rd annual festival will showcase 40 foreign-language films, a tribute to Glenn Close, a photography exhibit of Marilyn Monroe, a 15-hour movie about the history of movies and much more.

"A festival really can be all things to all people," said festival director Darryl Macdonald, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We've tried to create as broad an overview of the world of movies as we can."

The festival's biggest night is the Saturday night awards gala, which was the earliest event to sell out. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Michelle Williams and Glenn Close will all be in attendance. As will Octavia Spencer, who is receiving the breakthrough performance award for "The Help," Gary Oldman, who will accept the international star award for his performance in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," and the cast of "Young Adult" who will receive the Vanguard Award for creative ensemble, reports the LA Times.

At the end of the festival on Jan. 16, 188 films from 73 countries will have been shown, including 40 of this year's 63 foreign-lanuage Academy Awards submissions, according to the Times.