An awards season tradition returned to the California desert for the first time in three years Thursday night as Hollywood’s 2023 kicked off with the 34the Annual Palm Springs International Film Awards, which took place at the start of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The tables weren’t as close together as usual inside the cavernous Palm Springs Convention Center, but there was a special energy in the room due to the fact that the 2021 and 2022 events had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mary Hart, who always hosts the event, was missing in action this year, replaced by “Entertainment Tonight” correspondents Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner. But as usual, the festival lined up a bevy of presenters who promise to be in the middle of awards season for the next two months, with honorees including Austin Butler, Danielle Deadwyler, Brendan Fraser, Sarah Polley, Michelle Yeoh, Colin Farrell, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Viola Davis and Steve Spielberg with the cast of “The Fabelmans”.
Most Palm Springs honorees continue to receive nominations, making acceptance speeches at the event an out-of-town test for upcoming speeches. But the three-hour show isn’t televised and doesn’t have time limits, so it had a more relaxed, less formal energy. Here are some takeaways from the event.
Brendan Fraser brought his college degree to his first meeting with a Hollywood agent.
The “The Whale” star was the talk of the night as he received the Spotlight Award for his impressive performance as a man battling severe obesity and trying to reconcile with his estranged daughter. Before taking the stage to receive the award from his co-star Hong Chau, Fraser spoke to TheWrap about what the honor meant to him: “It marks a professional achievement that I could only have hoped to achieve when I started my career some 32 years ago. does, so I’m pinching myself a bit.”
Fraser went on to accept his award with a heartfelt speech that included information fans may never have known. Recalling his first meeting with a Hollywood agent, the actor said: “This is how serious I took myself: I brought my college degree to my first meeting with a Hollywood agent. Somehow I signed up and started working almost instantly, and guess what? I will continue to earn my degree for the next 32 years.”
Cate Blanchett is a terrible driver, but she has other hidden talents.
The world knows Cate Blanchett as one of the most talented actresses in the business, but does the world know she can’t drive? Presenting the “Tár” actress with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Jamie Lee Curtis felt compelled to mention Blanchett’s shortcomings behind the wheel. “I’m sure there are many things that Cate Blanchett can say about herself, and she may be under the illusion that she among the top three she may be driving,” Curtis said. “I will beg aloud to differ.”
Curtis went on to talk about working with Cate on the upcoming “Borderlands” movie, where their bond was sealed with a facial. “I was the first person to get a facial from Cate Blanchett,” Curtis said. “It’s a long story and there’s photographic evidence, but if she ever loses her day job, I think she has a second calling.”
Sam Rockwell can dance.
When Sam Rockwell presented him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, “The Banshees of Inisherin” star Colin Farrell made a point of talking about Rockwell’s prowess on the dance floor. “Sam is one of our great actors, who is also amazingly attractive,” Farrell said. “Those of you who haven’t seen Sam dance, go to YouTube and search ‘Sam Rockwell dancing.’ My favorite is ‘The Sam Rockwell Dancing Machine’”.
Farrell went on to give an inspirational speech reminiscing about his career, but concluded by reverting back to his presenter’s motions. “I want to end this speech with these 3 words for you: Sam Rockwell dancing!” he said.
Viola Davis is one of the best speakers of our time..
It’s no secret that Viola Davis is one of the greatest actresses of our time, but now it must be added that every time she steps on stage she is capable of giving a breathtaking speech. As she received the President’s Award (for acting and production), the Oscar-winning actress spoke about diversity, adversity and triumph.
At one point, he mentioned Tim Robbins’ iconic role in “The Shawshank Redemption,” in which his character chipped away at years of cement to finally achieve freedom. “Often the journey for black actors is just to have that little hammer and that little chisel and crumble that block, which is an industry that says you can’t lead a global box office, that you’re not pretty enough, you’re not pretty enough. shiny skin. We chisel and try to squeeze through the piss and shit, because the hammer and chisel is all we have.”
Other memorable moments included:
- The Austin Butler Charm: The “Elvis” actor received Breakthrough Performance, and judging by the standing ovation he received, the entire room of honorees, guests, Palm Springs movie crowd and local donors seemed to have loved his performance Like the King of Rock. n’ roll.
- Steven Spielberg and Sally Field’s friendship: Spielberg and the cast of his film “The Fabelmans” received the Vanguard award and said he was thrilled to receive his award from host Sally Field, whom he met at a Hollywood party in 1968. Field gave a heartfelt speech about their 50-year friendship, which ultimately led to her starring in one of his movies in 2012’s “Lincoln.”
- Michelle Yeoh’s flight: The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actress received the International Star award and told the audience that she had been in Paris the night before and almost missed the flight that would take her to the desert in time to receive her award.
