Oscar hopefuls from Cate Blanchett to Steven Spielberg arrive in Palm Springs as awards season kicks off

In Palm Springs, they do things a little differently. At least that’s the impression you would have gotten if you attended Thursday night’s 34th annual International Film Awards gala that opened the Palm Springs Film Festival, which was back in action for the first time since January 2020, just weeks before Covid closed. all off . However, the jewelers and upper echelons of Palm Springs society once again gathered at the massive Palm Springs Convention Center to celebrate a select group of stars who, not coincidentally, are among the most popular Oscar nominees.

With a red carpet that doesn’t stop at the front door, but continues into the grand lobby and then into the actual ballroom itself, this event is (and it seems) a must on the way to Dolby in March.

Maybe that’s why we’ve seen the likes of Steven Spielberg and his entire cast the mythical creatures, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Bill Nighy, Michelle Yeoh, Sarah Polley, Danielle Deadwyler and Austin Butler grace the stage to accept various awards negotiated with the studios to highlight their campaigns. way possible. The gala has in the past shown its strong correlation with Oscar nominations and wins for the selected award winners and there is no doubt that this will continue.

Even most presenters are in the hunt this awards season, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Tyree Henry, Hong Chau and Stephanie Hsu. On this occasion, not only the winners are allowed to make heartfelt speeches, but also the moderators, and there’s no 45 second limit on how long they can all go on – and they make the most of it. This aspect is important because it is one of the first opportunities to try your hand at your potential Oscar speech and I must say that the group chosen this year did everything in style.

And as I pointed out, Palm Springs does everything else, and that includes a full orchestra with a cast of musicians that will rival the Oscar show itself; a mile-long stage; and a large and enthusiastic crowd made up mainly of local residents. By the way, the PS audience gets the best seats closest to the stage, and unlike all the other awards, the actual winners and industry guests sit at tables in a queue area at the back of the massive auditorium. In past years they tended to be more in the center of the room, but as one joker told me last night, it was more like a “petting zoo” where the most beautiful people in the desert could pull out their phones and play them, swipe away tables for selfies. I remember sitting there for a year when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie walked up to their table and it was pure, uncontrolled chaos. Last night was more civilized, these props seemed to have an intimidating effect on the locals, who lined up to get a good shot like the stars, and even on the covered red carpet anyway entertainment tonight hosts Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner weaved their way through the crowd (longtime Gala host Mary Hart was announced as returning, but for whatever reason Frazier and Turner would be MCing instead).

As for those speeches, it was a home game for most. elevated road Rival Henry presented the Deadwyler Award to Deadwyler, who dressed beautifully and spoke movingly about the meaning of her film. To. She was followed by Fraser, who received the Spotlight Award from him The whale co-star Chau, who noted that she found out about the actor’s unique and fanatical following when she heard he was known as Renaissance. “People people broke into insane grins at the mention of his name,” she said, noting that this “role of a lifetime” wasn’t a comeback because he really has always been a dedicated actor, even when he didn’t look like he was in the spotlight. , and so the perfectly named Spotlight Award is proof that he’s back now. Fraser spoke of the “variety” of roles he has played over the past three decades and he looks forward to continuing the work for another 32 years. “Try to stop me,” he cried.

And so it went through the three-hour show without a break for dinner; Salad and appetizers were served during the speeches. I sat at the MGM/UA table for a while women talk. The film’s writer-director Polley received the Director of the Year Award from Eric Idle, who once directed a film with her when she was a 9-year-old actress. Your assumption was really elegant. “I think about how many untold stories like this there are,” she said. Lurhmann presented him with the Breakthrough Actor Award elvis Star Butler, who noted he hadn’t been in town since his grandparents took him to the Palm Springs Tennis Club.

The International Star Actress Award went to Yeoh, which was presented by her Everything, everywhere, all at once co-star Hsu, and the Corresponding International Star Actor trophy went life Nighy, who wins the shortest speech of the night award, but one that seemed spot on. Both deserving veterans have never been nominated for an Oscar, incredibly, but the warmth in the room for each of them is the proof you need that the January 24th move is coming. In fact, I suspect all five subsequent Best Actress Oscar nominees were in Palm Springs for Thursday’s ritual.

The evening’s host was undoubtedly Curtis, who recently starred in the unreleased film border town with Cate Blanchett, who won the Desert Palm Achievement Award Actress Taright Curtis said she would only agree if Blanchett agreed to let her drive into the desert. “I was born in the city of angels,” remarked the daughter of two real-life movie stars. “I’ve driven to Palm Springs and back a billion times.” Her speech was alternately hilarious and completely on point about what makes Blanchett the cinematic artist that she is. “Cate Blanchett knows and loves the light, and the light knows and loves her.”

Both Farrell, who received the Desert Palm Actor Award The Banshees by Inisherin (hosted by his good friend Sam Rockwell) and Blanchett could write a textbook on giving an acceptance speech. Farrell also gave a special shout out to his “three co-stars” Jenny the Donkey, Morris the Border Collie and “well may be the horse.”

Viola Davis is still basking in the glow of the praise she received The queen of women It’s been another hit since her debut in Toronto in early fall when she accepted the presidential award from Blanchett, who did double duty last night and publicly called for someone to cast her in a film starring Davis.

Spielberg also charmed the audience, flanked by his entire cast The Fables Vanguard Award winners including Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Judd Hirsch, Seth Rogen, Julia Butters, Samrechner, Gabriel LaBelle and Keeley Karsten, along with producer Kristie Macosko Krieger. It was presented by the director’s old friend and Lincoln Star Sally Field, who came in a close second in the Most Enthralling Presenter Speech category. Universal CEO Donna Langley sat next to Spielberg.

The Palm Springs gala is just the first of a series of awards coming up in the coming days, including the National Board of Review, Golden Globes, AFI Awards and Critics Choice Awards, to name a few. It really is the season.