The Palm Springs International Film Festival hosted its annual gala, celebrating outstanding contributions to cinema, where emotions ran high among the honorees on Thursday evening.
At the Palm Springs Convention Center, Mary Hart resumed her role as host for the prestigious awards gala, welcoming a star-studded audience.
Billie Eilish and Finneas made history as the first songwriters to receive the Chairman’s Award for their hit song “What Was I Made For?” featured in “Barbie.” Prior to acknowledging their parents and reminiscing about their journey as aspiring artists, Eilish opened up about the profound personal significance of the emotionally charged song.
During her speech, she dedicated the award to “Anyone who experiences hopelessness and the feeling of existential dread, and feeling like ‘what’s the point?'” Eilish candidly shared her own struggles, admitting, “I have really not wanted to be here. Sorry, dark, damn. I’ve spent a lot of time feeling that way. I want to say to anyone that feels that way, be patient with yourself, and know that it’s worth it all. And I think it’s good to be alive.”
Greta Gerwig, the writer and director of “Barbie,” presented Eilish and Finneas with the esteemed glass trophy. Earlier, Gerwig herself received the Director of the Year award, presented by her stars Margot Robbie and America Ferrera.
Reflecting on her love for cinema, Gerwig recalled her first movie experience watching “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and pledged, “I will spend the rest of my life running to the screen to get in.”
The gala remained emotionally charged as honorees expressed heartfelt sentiments. “The Holdovers” star Paul Giamatti, who received the Icon Award from his “Sideways” co-star Sandra Oh, paid tribute to his late mother and older sister, both passing away during significant moments in his career. Giamatti shared, “I never thought of myself as an icon,” and reminisced about his varied roles and collaborations with esteemed directors. “I’ve played some weird, difficult guys,” he said, “and sometimes it’s hard to get inside their heads.”
Recalling his first acting mentor, Giamatti fondly remembered actor Alan Rickman, acknowledging, “No one had ever encouraged me before that.”
His co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who received the Breakout Award, fought back tears as she described Giamatti as her “north star.”
The evening’s awards encompassed a range of categories, including Carey Mulligan receiving the International Star Award (Actress) presented by Meryl Streep, Cillian Murphy accepting the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Actor) presented by Robert Downey Jr., and Emma Stone honored with the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Actress) presented by Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe.
Notable mentions also included Jeffrey Wright receiving the Career Achievement Award presented by Leslie Uggams, and the Vanguard Award presented to the team behind “Killers of the Flower Moon” – director Martin Scorsese, executive producer and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and actor Lily Gladstone, introduced by Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear.
