5 most memorable moments from the 2023 Palm Springs International Film Awards

The Palm Springs International Film Festival returned this week for the first time since January 2020, and it all kicked off Thursday evening with the Film Awards.

Dozens of celebrities and other film industry professionals descended upon the desert for the black tie affair, which was held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Nine honorees and one cast received awards Thursday, and several more will be awarded Friday at Variety's 10 Directors to Watch for 2023 Brunch.

Where the event was lacking in dramatic Oscars-level confrontations, it made up for in gorgeous gowns, touching speeches and goofy interactions.

Here's our picks for the most inspiring, humorous and surprising moments from the evening.

Garry Kief saying longtime host Mary Hart was 'sidelined' this year

One pivotal member of the Palm Springs International Film Festival team was notably absent at this year's awards show: Chairman Harold Matzner. He told The Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network, he "worked at the convention center for two days and it took a lot out of me. Couldn’t manage coming tonight, although God knows that I wanted to."

President of Barry Manilow Productions and PSIFF Board of Directors member Garry Kief appeared in his place, and his speech turned some heads for mention of prior host Mary Hart, who was criticized by some locals after she appeared at President Donald Trump's 2020 Independence Day event at Mount Rushmore.

Kief thanked Hart, who hosted the event for 19 years, and said she was “sidelined" for this year's show, referencing how she was replaced by "Entertainment Tonight" anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner (but not noting why).

In a December press release, Matzner said the change in hosts was "due to her schedule, she is not able to be with us this year and she will be missed."

Austin Butler revealing why 'Elvis' changed in his life

"Elvis" star Austin Butler appears confident and on top of the world in the Baz Luhrmann-directed film, but he told the crowd at Thursday's event that it took some time to get to that point. The actor revealed on the red carpet that the film changed his relationship to fear.

"I've never felt more fear than when I was making the film," Butler said. "I knew if it didn't go well, it would be devastating, so now I have a lot more faith that if you do the work, something will happen."

'I couldn't be an imposter': How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley

'Everything Everywhere All At Once' star Stephanie Hsu sharing the film's emotional impact

"Everything Everywhere All At Once," starring Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis, made more than $100 million worldwide and has been garnering several nominations this award season. Life has been "a complete rollercoaster" since the film released in March, Hsu said, but it's been an emotional ride to see how much it has impacted audiences everywhere.

"We are the underdog in so many ways, and we represent small films, independent films and weird ideas and Asian stories, so I feel such an immense amount of pride," Hsu said. "It's completely surreal that this thing we held in our palms is now so big and beyond us and is reaching so many people across generations, across race, identity. It's crazy. It's what you want art to do."

Review: Michelle Yeoh's reluctant heroine powers dazzling, dizzying 'Everything Everywhere'

Steven Spielberg referencing his own Wikipedia page (poetically)

Steven Spielberg, director of “The Fabelmans,” gave a heartwarming speech when accepting the Vanguard Award alongside his cast.

“When people see themselves in these characters, that’s the greatest reward for me,” he said, adding that the personal nature of the film makes this win that much more special.

We went on to thank the two biggest supporters of his career.

“I’m not aware of many other filmmakers with a Wikipedia page as densely populated with sharks and dinosaurs and robots and aliens … so it has been a wild ride,” he said. “Thanks for setting me on that ride every day with reverence and awe … my very unique mother and father.”

More: All of Steven Spielberg's movies, definitively ranked (including coming-of-age film 'The Fabelmans')

Jamie Lee Curtis revealing how she got to Palm Springs with Cate Blanchett

Jamie Lee Curtis said she had one condition for presenting the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, to her friend Cate Blanchett for "Tar": Curtis had to drive the pair to the Film Awards, which she said was "an achievement competition of its own."

"I had to remind her that I am born and raised in the (expletive) City of Angels," Curtis said. "I've been to Palm Springs and back and went to Hadley's for a date shake a billion times."

Nepo baby debate: Jamie Lee Curtis, 'OG Nepo Baby,' says the label is designed to 'diminish' and 'hurt'

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 2023 Palm Springs International Film Fest: 5 most memorable moments