“Killers Of The Flower Moon” will receive the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

With the SAG strike now behind us, the big film festivals that take place in the middle of awards season are taking shape. An important stop is always the Palm Springs International Film Festival gala, which just announced its first award, the Vanguard, which goes to both a film’s director and its cast. It’s probably no surprise that the epic Western drama from Apple Original Films and Paramount, Flower Moon Killer.

Legendary director Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone will be on hand to host the Jan. 4 event in the desert city. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May to great acclaim. The big theatrical release took place on October 20 at Paramount Pictures and has grossed over $100 million worldwide to date.

“Flower Moon Killer is a powerful and important film not only because of its cinematic poetry, but also because of its cinematic poetry
a complicated story about the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, a story that completely…
illustrates the evil of racism and corruption,” said PSIFF President Nachhattar Singh Chandi.

RELATED: Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro on finding the emotional grip for their epic ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ at Cannes: The Deadline Q&A

Based on a true story and told through the unlikely romance of Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Gladstone). Flower Moon Killer follows the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, who overnight became the richest people in the world after oil was discovered beneath their land. Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons also star alongside a cast of Native American actors, including veteran Tantoo Cardinal. Scorsese directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Eric Roth and based on David Grann’s best-selling novel. The film features an original score by the late Robbie Robertson.

RELATED: How Robbie Robertson Avoided “Film Music” In His Score For ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ – Sound & Screen Film

Past recipients of the festival’s Vanguard Award include Best Picture Oscar winners Green book And The
form of water and nominees Belfast, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine, The Fablemans and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

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Palm Springs will release its annual awards list ahead of the festival, which takes place Jan. 4-15 in the desert city east of Los Angeles. Here is the list of previous recipients:

Vanguard Award: Flower Moon Killer