Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala Gets Star-Studded Turnout

Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala Gets Star-Studded Turnout

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The Palm Spring International Film Awards are always fun, and always Capital with a capital “B”. This year's 36th edition, the 20th edition, is hosted by the indefatigable Mary Hart, who keeps it going – there's no break for chat and dinner because once it starts, you're just eating while applauding the many equally brilliant stars and presenters who give it their all, Shall we say, unique Statues.

The recipients are always, repeat alwayshave been hand-picked from the best Oscar nominees, and in fact as this season jumps into overdrive with one ceremony after another, and continues with tomorrow's Golden Globes (the holidays are over, the Hollywood days have begun), every one of them is among the honorees at the PSIFF Awards. On Friday night, you'll also be seen dressed in formal attire and walking the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday. The event served as a warm-up, a chance to experience honest and humorous speeches, and we would likely hear variations throughout the season from the lucky few who were able to go to Dolby in March. Fasten your seat belts.

However, Palm Springs holds a certain charm in all its glamour, and given the sheer wealth and elegance on display, I was shocked to see that it was “black tie optional.” There were a few sharply dressed people in the cavernous Palm Springs Convention Center under. And unlike every other individual awards ceremony this season, this is the only one to feature a full orchestra playing each winner's associated music, from Hart entering the stage to the familiar theme from Entertainment tonight (With whom I also happily worked for the first decade of the show.) And let's talk about that stage! It's a huge football field, and requires Nike shoes (if you dare) rather than just high heels to get across. On a Cinerama-sized screen (IMAX would be jealous) stretching the entire length of the stage are three separate identical visions of who has the microphone, the presenter and the receiver. Given the sheer size of the place and the crowds inside, it is essential.

Before any of the stars enter, they must brave the red carpet outside, through the applause and adoration of the smartly dressed attendees lined up on either side, across the foyer and into the ballroom until they finally reach the studio-bought tables that are not at the front. , but in the center, 800s. The first eight wide rows of tables closest to the stage are for old-time fans and big-time players, and Palm Springs has plenty of them.

I was happy to sit at one of two tables and watch Netflix, 806, with Julie; Her daughter, Zahra. Hosted by veteran and creative film star Jacqueline Bisset. I asked Julie if she had memories of ever attending this event, but she indicated that was many years ago, and the whole thing was a blur. I can understand why, because I've been there and when she finally got to her table (with Brad Pitt then), she was surrounded by a sea of ​​flashes that went off like something out of the ordinary. La dolce vita. It was the purest example of the hottest stardom I have ever witnessed. I told her, and she smiled as if to indicate, “Yes, another day at work.”

Zahara Jolie, Angelina Jolie, Jacqueline Bisset

Honorees must attend in person (only He tries to keep them away) including Mickey Madison (the wonderful actress, Anura), Kieran Culkin (creative actor, Real pain), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Singing singing), Ariana Grande (rising star, evil), cast concave (group performer), Nicole Kidman (international star, Babygirl), Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Actor Award, Brutal), Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Actress Award), Maria)Timothée Chalamet (President's Award, Completely anonymous), cast Emilia BeRez And director Jacques Audiard (Vanguard Award) and Sand Dunes: Part Two Director Denis Villeneuve (Vision Award). Apparently, the concert organizers pulled the original name from what the Sonny Bono Visionary Award was previously called (Bono founded the festival when he was mayor here).

She deserves any honors this year for playing Maria Callas in a performance that is both risky and rewarding. “Thank you for making space for me Madness“For this and for Maria, for allowing me to have a voice and to find my voice again,” she said in her acceptance. Bisset had never been to the party before, and she was there this time because she's actually Julie's godmother, something I didn't know before. Jolie said that Bessette and her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, were close friends and that her mother chose Jackie as someone she knew had qualities that would be a great role model for her daughter.

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I was able to go on tours Emilia Perez The table next to us. Selena Gomez is an old pro at this type of gathering at this point, but for Carla Sofía Gascón, it's all brand new, and surprisingly so is Zoe Saldaña, who asked me and Netflix's Lisa Tabak (sitting next to her) if this is what awards season is all about. It's always like. I told her that this year, after the pandemic and the strikes were over, was the first in a while that things seemed to be back to normal. “That's good,” Saldana said. “Because this is my first time and I want it to be great.” Co-star Edgar Ramírez was also in attendance, and Audiard joined in late shortly before presenting their award, which was their last of the evening. His acceptance, after every actor had spoken, was pure magic and all in French.

Emilia Perez Vanguard Award

All the speeches were memorable in one way or another. Madison, who is new to the awards trail, pointed to previous roles such as “masked psycho killer” and “unhinged '60s hippie” as experiences that led to her role as a sex worker looking for a future in the film world. Anora. At the other end of the scale are veterans like Kidman (who is accepting her fourth PSIFF award), who becomes emotional as she is still grieving the loss of her mother, whose death she learned during her premiere in Venice. Babygirl. She returned to Australia before learning she had won Best Actress there, and this is the first time she has been able to talk about it publicly. It was very moving.

Presenters included Sharon Stone, Jamie Lee Curtis, Demi Moore, Amy Adams, Andrew Garfield and Gary Oldman. Some like Chalamet and Isabella Rossellini did double duty, and both were givers; (Chalamet to Villeneuve, Isabella Rossellini to Madison and then on stage as part of the winning ensemble concave It was introduced to her by director Edward Berger and co-stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, John Lithgow, and Carlos Diehes. Stone talked about playing Culkin's mother Great heartwhile Culkin himself recently won an Emmy Award succession, We can marvel at the fact that he received the “Outstanding Actor” award at the age of 42, 35 years after his debut.

Adrien Brody attends the 36th Palm Springs International Film Awards on January 3, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.

Domingo, the only returnee from last year, was particularly sincere in his acceptance, as Chalamet, not yet 30, bowed down not only to his co-host Oldman, but also to those he admires as he forges his career. Grande, who received the Rising Star award, had the daunting task of following up with hilarious host Jennifer Coolidge, and she managed to do it with a funny and sweet acceptance. “I've been performing since I was a kid, so I never thought at 31 years old that I would hear the words to rise star again. So I want to thank my good friends Botox and Juvederm,” she laughed.

All in all, a great start to the new year and the final two months of the Oscars, which is when the contenders start giving away awards, taking home awards, and yes, still… Election campaigns For prizes. 'Tis the season, people. See you Sunday at the Globes.



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