By Ryan Pearson, Entertainment Writer
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) --Hollywood kicked off the year's compressed awards season with an emotional night in the desert.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival's annual opening gala is often treated by honorees as a businesslike, pro forma stop on the industry's self-congratulation circuit. But Thursday found Laura Dern, Jennifer Lopez and Quentin Tarantino wiping away tears onstage at the city's convention center.
Dern, presented with the career achievement award, was surprised with a video of her divorced parents Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd high-fiving as they praised her, saying "You got game."
"That was really moving for me," the 52-year-old actress said. "And every kid kind of wants to see their parents together."
Dern, who stars in "Little Women" and "Marriage Story," then told the crowd of more than 2,000 dinner guests that she'd been conceived in the nearby mountain town of Idyllwild during production of the 1966 Roger Corman biker movie "The Wild Angels."
Lopez apologized for being overcome with emotion after an introduction from "Hustlers" writer-director Lorene Scafaria.
"I'm so glad to be here but I want to run out the door, I'm so nervous," she said.
The 50-year-old performer, likely to land her first Oscar nomination later this month, noted that women held key roles both behind and in front of the camera on the crime drama.
"To all the talented women out there writing films, producing films and directing films, support one another. And tell your stories," she said.
"Little Women" director Greta Gerwig introduced "Once Upon A Time … in Hollywood" writer-director Tarantino with effusive praise, saying he "makes movies as if movies could save the world." The 56-year-old director wiped a tear from his eye.
"My joke that I say when people are going to talk about me is I say, 'Speak about me as if I were dead.'" Tarantino said. "And they never do! And you did! Thank you, Greta."
"The Irishman" star Robert De Niro, introducing honoree Martin Scorsese, got political when discussing festival founder Sonny Bono.
"Sonny was a Republican, back in the days when Republicans still supported the arts, believed in science, and could put partisanship aside to champion what's best for our country. It's a different time," he said.
Also taking home honors from Palm Springs: "Joker" star Joaquin Phoenix, "Judy" star Renee Zellweger, "Pain and Glory" star Antonio Banderas and "Bombshell" star Charlize Theron.
The non-televised gala was a low-pressure affair, with winners named in advance and presented with sculpture trophies by friends and directors. But it comes at a key time: Academy voters began casting ballots for Oscar nominations on Thursday, and many honorees will gather again in three days for the Golden Globe Awards.
Hollywood's awards season, which has typically stretched over more than two months, is shorter than usual this year. In an effort to reduce awards fatigue, the U.S. film academy announced last summer that it had moved the date of this year's Academy Awards to Feb. 9 from its typical late February or early March slot.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More