It’s been almost a year already, but that is the beauty of memories – being able to reflect on a fabulous evening with the entertainment stars of our time and actually catch up with all the nominated films. Founded in 1989, the Palm Springs International Film Festival is still going strong in its 35th year. In 2024, the festival was held from January 4 – 15, and we were thrilled to attend the annual star-studded Film Awards gala for the second year in a row – honoring the best and brightest performances of 2023.
Since these intimate awards are not televised, you might be curious about some of our favorite moments amongst the stars.
Highlights of the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival
Paul Giamatti wins the Icon Award and remembers his mom and sister
I’ve always been a fan of Paul Giamatti – since his heartbroken days in the film Sideways (“No more Fkcn Merlot!”) – but his speech made me an even bigger fan. Seeing his latest movie “The Holdovers” made me like him even more. He is not only hilarious in this new film but he brings a lot of heart.
Upon receiving the award, he thanked Palm Springs for feeling very connected here. He also shared how The Holdovers is a beautiful film about human connection, growth, memory, the past, loss, empathy and how the film made him think a lot about the past and the first proper play he was in. He also reflected on how he lost his mother before the movie Sideways came out and how he wishes she could have seen it.
He also lost his older sister before The Holdovers came out, who he describes lovingly as a “performer, ballet dancer, writer, and amazing person.” Giamatti recounts, “She was smart and always encouraged me and she saw every play and movie I was in and we talked about them and connected, where I learned more through those conversations. I really wanted her to see this movie because she would have loved this movie and she would have given me no end of shit about being called an Icon, but she would have been really proud.”
Oh and Paul really cleans up well. Check him out on the red carpet!
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas honor their parents after winning the Chairman’s Award for their hit song “What Was I made For” from the Barbie Soundtrack
This was a first time award given to songwriters.
Billie Eilish thanks Margot Robbie for being such a star who encapsulates everything so well in Barbie. Eilish goes on to dedicate the award and recognition of this song to anyone experiencing hopelessness and existential dread and feeling ‘what’s the point’.
“I think we all feel like that, but if someone like me with the amount of privilege I have and, sorry to get dark, but I have really not wanted to be here (at times), so be patient with yourself, and its good to be alive. When we were asked to write this song I was in a dark episode and life didn’t make sense and I was asking why keep going and questioning everything in the world.”
“The two of us were in the theater watching Barbie and she was saying and feeling things that really resonated with me, and I felt close to, and felt seen. This movie is an incredibly empowering and funny piece of art,” Eilish shared, “and I feel honored to be a part of [it].”
Finneas continued, by acknowledging and appreciating their parents – who he shared were “theater people who met on a flight to Alaska in 1984 to do regional theater and in the 90s. They thought it might be a good idea to move from NYC to LA to try to make more money in film and TV, and when it didn’t work out, it was OK to have dreams that don’t pan out as you planned.”
Finneas acknowledges their great luck as musicians and artists in a beautiful speech and honors his parents: “In this fairly unfair entertainment industry, we are all incredibly lucky. We weren’t raised by bitter people who didn’t realize their dreams. We’d be nothing and nowhere without our parents.”
As my LaLaLand luck would have it, I met Billie Eilish’s mom a few weeks prior at a charity dinner she held, and then ran into Billie Eilish in the bathroom at the Palm Springs Film Festival. It made me realize how overwhelming it is to be a star – as I noticed when many people ran up to selfie with her and she quietly retreated into a bathroom stall to probably have a moment to herself before the speech she was about to give.
3. Lenny Kravitz honors actor Colman Domingo
Listen to Lenny Kravitz honor Colman’s acting career and his performance in Rustin.
4. Robert Downey Jr. gushes about co-star Cillian Murphy while presenting him the Desert Palm Achievement Award
Watch as Downey sings the praises of his Oppenheimer co-star Cillian Murphy, but reveals he hasn’t yet written a speech.
More clips from the evening HERE and HERE.
5. Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Margot Robbie laugh, dine, and celebrate each others’ successes around us
Everywhere we turned, a leading actor of our time appeared. It seemed they all came out for this special award ceremony and also arrived to support their actor friends. Listen to Meryl Streep’s sentiments.
Thank you to Visit Greater Palm Springs for the special night.
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