Paul Giamatti to Receive Icon Award at Palm Springs Film Awards

The Palm Springs Film Awards will honor Paul Giamatti with the Icon Award for his performance in “The Holdovers.” He will receive the award at the Jan. 4 event at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In ‘The Holdovers,’ Paul Giamatti inhabits a complex character who is both challenging and rewarding, and ultimately reminds us of what it means to be connected as human beings,” festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement. “For his storied career of quintessential cinematic roles, it is our honor to present the Icon Award to Paul Giamatti for this career-best performance.”

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In Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” Giamatti portrays a grumpy New England prep school teacher who forms a bond with a troubled student and the school’s head cook, who is grieving after the loss of her son. Giamatti currently stars in Season 2 of “30 Coins” and the final season of “Billions.” His other film and television credits include “Private Life,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Too Big to Fail,” “John Adams,” “Barney’s Version,” “Sideways” and “Cinderella Man.”

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell to Receive Chairman’s Honor

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell will be honored with the Chairman’s Award for their song “What Was I Made For?” from Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” The duo will be honored Jan. 4 at the Film Awards at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The song has been nominated for five Grammys, plus nominations for best original song at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

“We are thrilled to present the prestigious Chairman’s Award to Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for their celebrated original song ‘What Was I Made For?’ from Barbie,” said festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “Billie and Finneas, with their unparalleled talent, have created a beautiful and ethereal ballad that perfectly evokes the poignancy of the journey Margot Robbie’s Barbie takes in the film. The Palm Springs International Film Festival proudly honors these visionary artists for their award-worthy musical contribution.”

“Barbie” received nine Golden Globe noms in all, as well as 18 Critics Choice awards, and was recognized on the AFI Awards Movies of the Year list and the National Board of Review top films list.

Danielle Brooks Honored With Spotlight Award

Danielle Brooks will be honored with the Spotlight Award, Actress at the Palm Springs International Film Awards for her performance in “The Color Purple.” The awards will be held Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In ‘The Color Purple,’ Danielle Brooks revisits her Tony-nominated portrayal of Sofia, a force to be reckoned with who challenges traditional female roles and stands for what she believes in,” said festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “For her exceptional work and a scene-stealing performance, it is our honor to present the Spotlight Award, Actress to Danielle Brooks.”

Brooks, who appeared in “Orange Is the New Black,” most recently starred in August Wilson’s Broadway play “The Piano Lesson” opposite Samuel L. Jackson. In Blitz Bazawule’s adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Brooks plays Sofia, a role which earned her a Tony Award nomination on Broadway as well as a Grammy, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award. “The Color Purple,” which co-stars Taraji P. Henson and Colman Domingo, will be released Dec. 25.

Colman Domingo to Receive Spotlight Actor Honor

Colman Domingo will receive the Spotlight Award for Actor for his performance in “Rustin” at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. Domingo will be honored Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In ‘Rustin,’ Colman Domingo demonstrates his impressive talents bringing to life civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, an organizer of the 1963 March on Washington,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “For this career defining performance, it is our honor to present the Spotlight Award, Actor to Colman Domingo.”

In “Rustin,” Domingo plays activist and organizer Bayard Rustin, co-starring with Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald. Domingo won the 2022 Emmy for his performance as Ali in “Euphoria.” He also stars in the upcoming “The Color Purple,” opening on Dec. 25.

Carey Mulligan to Receive International Star, Actress Award

Carey Mulligan will receive the International Star Award, Actress at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. Mulligan is being honored for her performance in Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” at the Jan. 4 ceremony at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In this historical and personal examination of famed composer Leonard Bernstein, Carey Mulligan measures both ends of true love – its extraordinary heights and intense lows – conveying a striking role as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “For this performance and her remarkable stature in world cinema, we are honored to present the International Star Award, Actress to Carey Mulligan.”

“Maestro” chronicles the relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, and stars Cooper, Maya Hawke and Sarah Silverman alongside Mulligan. She will next appear in Netflix’s science fiction drama “Spaceman” with Adam Sandler.

Greta Gerwig to Receive Director of the Year Award

The Palm Springs International Film Awards will honor Greta Gerwig with the Director of the Year Award for her critically acclaimed blockbuster “Barbie.” The event will be held on Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“Director Greta Gerwig has brought us the cinematic experience of the year with Barbie, the perfect blend of comedy, emotion and adventure that has both entertained and resonated with audiences, becoming a cultural touchstone around the world,” said festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi.

Chandi continued, “Gerwig is a masterful filmmaker, and her vision is brought to life so vividly by both the script she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, and by her clear and singular collaboration with her extraordinary crafts teams, whose visuals are matched only by the outstanding performances delivered by Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the entire cast. It is our honor to present the Director of the Year Award to Greta Gerwig.”

Previous winners of the Director of the Year Award include Jane Campion, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Steve McQueen, among many others.

‘The Holdovers’ Star Da’Vine Joy Randolph to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award

“The Holdovers” star Da’Vine Joy Randolph is set to be honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. Randolph will receive her award at the Jan. 4 ceremony at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“In ‘The Holdovers,’ Da’Vine Joy Randolph brings not only her significant comedic talents to the table, but also extremely moving emotional depth to her portrayal of Barton Academy head cook Mary Lamb, who is grieving the recent loss of her son,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “It is our honor to present the Breakthrough Performance Award, to this talented actress in celebration of her outstanding work and recognizing her emerging talent.”

Previous Breakthrough Award honorees include Danielle Deadwyler, Mary J. Blige, Marion Cotillard, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Felicity Huffman, Brie Larson, Rosamund Pike and Lupita Nyong’o.

In Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” Randolph plays the head cook at a New England prep school, who stays at the school over holiday break after losing a son in Vietnam.

‘Oppenheimer’ Star Cillian Murphy to Receive Desert Palm Acting Honor

“Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. Murphy will be honored for his role as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s film at the Film Awards on Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Murphy also collaborated with Nolan on “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and “Dunkirk.”

“Murphy gives a stunning portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer as a conflicted scientist leading the Manhattan Project to produce the world’s first atomic bomb,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “For this career-best performance, we are honored to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor, to Cillian Murphy.”

Previous recipients of the actor award include Riz Ahmed, Jeff Bridges, Bradley Cooper, Daniel Day- Lewis and Adam Driver.

Palm Springs International Film Awards Honors Emma Stone With Desert Palm Acting Prize

The Palm Springs International Film Awards will honor Emma Stone with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, for Searchlight Pictures “Poor Things.” Stone will receive the honor at the Jan. 4 awards at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“Emma Stone continues to exert influence as one of the most important actresses of this generation, whose performances are always exceptional no matter the role. In her latest film ‘Poor Things,’ Emma delivers a burning intensity and character bound for liberation,” Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said. “There is no one better suited for this role, and it is our honor to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, to Emma Stone.”

Emma Stone was previously honored at the festival with the Vanguard Award in 2016 alongside co-star Ryan Gosling and director Damien Chazelle for “La La Land.”

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ to Receive Vanguard Award

The Palm Springs International Film Awards announced that “Killers of the Flower Moon” will receive the Vanguard Award, which honors a film’s cast and director for their collective work on an exceptional film project. Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone will be presented with the award at the gala ceremony, which takes place Jan. 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“’Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a powerful and important film not only for its cinematic poetry, but also as a complicated story about the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, one which fully illustrates the evils of racism and corruption. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film features a powerhouse ensemble performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons and Tantoo Cardinal making it the must-see film of the year,” festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement. “It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.'”

Best picture winners “Green Book” and “The Shape of Water” have previously received the Vanguard Award, along with best picture nominees “Belfast,” “La La Land,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Fablemans” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”

Based on a true story, Apple Original Films’ “Killers of the Flower Moon” chronicles the spree of murders targeting the Osage Nation told through the romance between DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart and Gladstone’s Mollie Kyle.

The Palm Springs Film Festival will run through Jan. 15, and Entertainment Tonight and IHG Hotels & Resorts will sponsor the event.

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