Mercedes-Benz Green-Chic Vehicles Deliver at Palm Springs International Film Festival's Red Carpet

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the official vehicle of the 22nd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, Mercedes-Benz provided environmentally friendly luxury vehicles for Hollywood's elite. The Festival, which runs from January 6-17, 2011, starts the winter awards season with a spectacular program of films and a celebrity filled red-carpet gala.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110110/NY27666 )

The two week celebration of films kicked-off with the Gala Awards Dinner on January 8th, where celebrity presenters and honorees such as Amy Adams, Mark Wahlberg, Natalie Portman, Colin Firth, Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren, Taylor Hackford, Aaron Eckhart, Oliver Stone, James Franco, Amy Ryan, Rashida Jones and Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Ben Affleck, Robert Duvall, director David O Russell (The Fighter), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) and songwriter Diane Warren (Burlesque) were driven in Mercedes-Benz 2011 S400 HYBRID luxury sedans.

"For the eighth consecutive year, Mercedes-Benz is proud to support the festival and the Palm Springs International Film Society as a sponsor and official vehicle," says Jill Martinette, Mercedes-Benz Regional Marketing Manager.  "The start of the festival season sets a perfect backdrop to present an environmentally friendly vehicle like the S400 Hybrid. As our flagship sedan, it's the ideal blend of luxury, safety and technology, which continues to gain a loyal following with Hollywood's eco conscious stylish set."

The S400 HYBRID features the world's first lithium-ion battery in a production vehicle. The 275-hp V6 gasoline engine provides impressive fuel economy with an estimated 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Mercedes-Benz offers a selection of hybrids and BlueTEC clean diesel vehicles, ranging from four door sedans to seven-passenger SUVs and 14 passenger vans. Throughout the two week festival, Mercedes-Benz is displaying several additional eco-friendly vehicles including the C350 Sedan, GLK350 SUV and E350 Cabriolet. Built with 85 percent recyclable materials, all are powered by highly efficient V6 engines that achieve the California Air Resources Board's most stringent exhaust rating as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV).

Mercedes-Benz eco-friendly line-up are already the vehicles of choice for many of Hollywood's elite. Individuals such as Demi Moore, Gerard Butler, Simon Baker, Toby Maguire and Katharine McPhee among others are choosing Mercedes-Benz because it offers safety and technology with solid environmental credentials without sacrificing luxury.  These vehicles range from the S400 HYBRID luxury sedan to the ML450 HYBRID mid-size SUV.  Also popular are the clean diesel BlueTEC sedans and SUVs like the E350 BlueTEC and the R, ML and GL350 BlueTEC.

In 2011, Mercedes-Benz celebrates 125 years of the automobile and its future.  It was Carl Benz's patent of the automobile that occurred around the same time as the invention of motion pictures.  No one knew the impact that these inventions would have on society, but now more than a century later, Hollywood and Mercedes-Benz are synonymous with glamour and luxury. Both share a rich and inspirational history together – in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

About the 22nd Annual Awards Gala

The Festival's 22nd Annual Awards Gala, presented by Cartier and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight and Mercedes-Benz, kicked off the 2011 awards season at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 8th. Hosted by "Entertainment Tonight's" Mary Hart, the Awards Gala honored Academy Award winners Robert Duvall with the Career Achievement Award; Academy Award winner Javier Bardem with the International Star Award; Colin Firth and Natalie Portman will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Actor and Actress Award; Danny Boyle with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award;  Academy Award-nominated director David O Russell with its Director of the Year Award, Carey Mulligan the  Breakthrough Performance Award; Ben Affleck with the Chairman's Award: Diane Warren with its Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing for "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" from Burlesque; and Jennifer Lawrence with the Rising Star Award.  The film's director, David Fincher will also present the Ensemble Performance Award to the cast of The Social Network, including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer and Rooney Mara, who all attended.

About the Palm Springs International Film Festival

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 130,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival runs January 6-17, 2011.  Founded in 1990 by then-Mayor Sonny Bono, the movie PSIFF line-up will include over 400 screenings of more than 200 films from approximately 60 countries. The Festival presents a majority of the films submitted for consideration in the Best Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards, as well as a large number of American independent and international features and documentaries marking their world, North American or U.S. debuts. Screenings are held on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs. Screening information can be found at http://www.psfilmfest.org.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.  

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in the US.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbsprinterusa.com.

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA