Posted by Larry Gleeson

Annual Event Welcomed Host Mary Hart and Festival Honorees

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Amy Adams attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Mahershala Ali attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Ryan Gosling attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Producers Pharrell Williams and Mimi Valdes attend the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Natalie Portman attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Ruth Negga attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Amy Adams attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Host Mary Hart onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

Kicking off Awards Season, the 28^th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Film Awards Gala was held Monday, January 2, 2017 at the Palm Springs Convention Center hosted by Mary Hart.  Honorees were presented with an original Chihuly Glass Sculpture designed by Dale Chihuly or the John Kennedy “The Entertainer” statue.  The presenting sponsor of the Film Awards Gala is Chopard and major sponsors are Entertainment Tonight and Mercedes-Benz.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala honors individuals in the entertainment industry with several prestigious awards for acting and directing.  The following awards were presented at this year’s Film Awards Gala:

• Ruth Negga received the Rising Star Award for Loving presented by her co-star Joel Edgerton and director Jeff Nichols
• Mahershala Ali received the Breakthrough Performance Award for Moonlight presented by co-star Janelle Monáe
• Nicole Kidman received the International Star Award for Lion presented by her co-star Dev Patel
• Andrew Garfield received the Spotlight Award for Hacksaw Ridge presented by Laura Dern
• Hidden Figures (Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Janelle Monáe, Jim Parsons, Kimberly Quinn, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali, Octavia Spencer) received the Ensemble Performance Award presented by the film’s producer Pharrell Williams
• Natalie Portman received the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for Jackie presented by Tom Hanks
• Casey Affleck received the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor for Manchester by the Sea presented by Sir Ben Kingsley
• Amy Adams received the Chairman’s Award for Arrival presented by Andrew Garfield
• Annette Bening received the Career Achievement Award for 20^th Century Women presented by the film’s director Mike Mills
• La La Land (Damien Chazelle, Justin Hurwitz, Ryan Gosling) received the Vanguard Award presented by Jane Lynch
• Tom Hanks received the Icon Award for Sully presented by his co-star Laura Linney

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Laura Dern and Andrew Garfield attend the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Laura Linney attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Host Mary Hart onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: (L-R) Actresses Kimberly Quinn, Kirsten Dunst, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae pose with the Ensemble Performance Award during the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actors Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Glen Powell, Mahershala Ali and Jim Parsons onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Tom Hanks speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Damien Chazelle, Justin Hurwitz, Ryan Gosling and Fred Berger attend the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Amy Adams speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Director Damien Chazelle speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Annette Bening speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Dev Patel speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Casey Affleck speaks onstage at the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Ruth Negga attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actors Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga and filmmaker Jeff Nichols attend the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

Additional guests who attended the event: actress Denise DuBarry (Do It or Die), actor Phillip Keene (Major Crimes), director Ritesh Batra (The Sense of An Ending), actress Suzanne Somers, actor Udo Kier (Old Money), Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon, along with festival representatives Harold Matzner (Festival Chairman) and Michael Lerman (Artistic Director).

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Palm Springs International Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Denise DuBarry attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Phillip P. Keene attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actress Suzanne Somers attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Actor Udo Kier attends the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

Following the ceremony an after party was held at the Parker Palm Springs.

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Director Mike Mills, actress Annette Bening and actor Warren Beatty attend the after party for the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: A general view of atmosphere at the after party for the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

PALM SPRINGS, CA – JANUARY 02: Guests mingle during the after party for the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival)

The Palm Springs International Film Festival takes place January 5-15, 2017. For additional information on the Festival visit www.psfilmfest.org.

CONTACT:    

Steven Wilson/Lauren Peteroy 

BWR Public Relations

steven.wilson@bwr-pr.com / lauren.peteroy@bwr-pr.com

(Source: Press release courtesy of BWR/Lauren Peteroy)