Images: Palm Springs film fest
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The first film-award ceremony of the new year was a star-studded affair Saturday night.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival, which attracts numerous locally based Academy voters who now have ballots in hand, traditionally is the first of each calendar year's award-season ceremonies, which include approximately two-dozen events significant enough to attract major movie stars between now and the Oscars, set for Feb. 22 in Hollywood.
"This is the first time I am a part of (the two-month award season)," said Morton Tyldum, director of the Golden Globe-nominated drama "The Imitation Game" earlier in the evening while doing red carpet interviews. "When I saw the schedule," Tyldum continued, "I was in shock."
Not so award-season veteran and Palm Springs honoree Reese Witherspoon ("Wild"), who said, "It's a great opportunity for all of us to get together and celebrate this wonderful year of film."
The actress, an Oscar winner for "Walk the Line" (2005), said, "Wonderful performances, wonderful direction and producing. And I feel like it has been a real great, strong year."
At points, love was in the air on the red carpet, as festival honoree Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything") posed for photographers with his new wife, public-relations executive Hannah Bagshawe, and "Imitation" star Benedict Cumberbatch, briefly stopped for a few snaps with his fiancee, theater director Sophie Hunter.
A complete list of 2015 Palm Spring Film International Festival Award Gala honorees:
Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress - Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl")
Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor - David Oyelowo ("Selma")
Chairman's Award - Reese Witherspoon ("Wild")
Desert Palm Achievement Award - Actor - Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything")
Desert Palm Achievement Award - Actress - Julianne Moore ("Still Alice")
Director of the Year Award - Alejandro G. Inarritu ("Birdman")
Ensemble Performance Award - "The Imitation Game"
Spotlight Award - J.K. Simmons ("Whiplash")
Sonny Bono Visionary Award - Richard Linklater ("Boyhood")
Icon Award - Robert Duvall ("The Judge")
Chris Rock arrives at Variety's 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards presented by Mercedes-Benz at the Parker Palm Springs on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Robert Duvall, winner of the icon award, poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Director Morten Tyldum, second from left, and Alex Lawther, Benedict Cumberbatch, Allen Leech and Matthew Beard, winners of the ensemble performance award for "The Imitation Game," pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Julianne Moore, winner of the Desert Palm achievement award - actress for "Still Alice" poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Reese Witherspoon, winner of the chairman's award, left, and Laura Dern pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Brad Pitt presents the breakthrough performance award - actor at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Reese Witherspoon accepts the chairman's award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Eddie Redmayne, winner of the Desert Palm achievement award - actor for "The Theory of Everything," poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch, left, and Allen Leech, of "The Imitation Game," pose in the press room with the ensemble performance award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, winner of the director of the year award for "Birdman," left, and Michael Keaton pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Eddie Redmayne, winner of the Desert Palm achievement award - actor for "The Theory of Everything," left, and Julianne Moore, winner of the Desert Palm achievement award - actress for "Still Alice" pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Laura Dern presents the chairman's award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Julianne Moore, winner of the Desert Palm achievement award - actress for "Still Alice," left, and Steve Carell have a little fun in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch, from left, Allen Leech, Alex Lawther and Matthew Beard accept the ensemble performance award for "The Imitation Game" at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Michael Keaton, right, presents the director of the year award to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for "Birdman" at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Jason Reitman, left, and J.K. Simmons, winner of the spotlight award, pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch, of "The Imitation Game", accepts the ensemble performance award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Shirley MacLaine presents the Sonny Bono visionary award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Reese Witherspoon, winner of the chairman's award, poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Richard Linklater accepts the Sonny Bono visionary award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
David Oyelowo accepts the breakthrough performance award - actor for "Selma" at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Rosamund Pike accepts the breakthrough performance award - actress for "Gone Girl" at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Kim Dickens, from left, Rosamund Pike, winner of the breakthrough performance award - actress for "Gone Girl", and Carrie Coon pose in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Mary Hart arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Benedict Cumberbatch and his fiancee Sophie Hunter arrive at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
"Selma" director Ava DuVernay, left, and star David Oyelowo arrive at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
"Selma" actor David Oyelowo arrives with his wife, Jessica, at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Rosamund Pike, winner of the breakthrough performance award - actress for "Gone Girl", poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Robert Downey Jr., left, and Robert Duvall arrive at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Hannah Bagshawe, left, and Eddie Redmayne arrive at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Felicity Jones arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Eddie Redmayne arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Michael Keaton arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Patrick Stewart, from left, Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard arrive at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Chaz Ebert, widow of the film critic Roger Ebert, arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Beverly Johnson arrives at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Common, from left, Ava Du Vernay, Helen du Toit and David Oyelowo pose for a photo at the Opening Night Reception at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Common, left, signs a program for guest, right, at the Opening Night Reception at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Palm Springs, California.
Associated Press/Invision
Shari Belafonte poses at the Palm Springs International Film Festival opening night screening of SELMA at Palm Springs High School on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Robert Downey Jr. presents the icon award at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
J.K. Simmons, winner of the spotlight award, poses in the press room at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, in Palm Springs, Calif.
Associated Press/Invision
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.