24th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival Gala

Ben Affleck

Photos and story by Pat Krause

The 24th annual Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival Gala was held on Jan. 5th at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Red Carpet arrivals included Award winning Celebrities, Celebrity Presenters, Emcee Mary Hart, other celebrities and PSIFF dignitaries. Hundreds of photographers, TV interviewers and camera men lined the Red Carpet.

The Chairman’s Award was given to Richard Gere and presented by Diane Lane. Helen Hunt garnered the Spotlight Award presented by John Hawkes. Tom Hooper won the Sonny Bono Visionary Award and was presented by Eddie Redmayne. Naomi Watts won the Desert Palm Achievement award for Women and Bradley Cooper won it for the Men. Presenters were Tom Holland and David O. Russell. Helen Mirren got the International Star Award presented by Tom Hooper. Sally Field won the Career Achievement Award and was presented by Martin Sheen. The Ensemble Performance Award went to the Cast of ARGO, Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston.

Mychael Danna won the Frederick Loewe award presented by Ang Lee.Robert Zemeckis was awarded the Director of the Year Award presented by actor Tom Hanks.

This “A” list of Stars brings people from all over the world to the Film Festival. Over 2,000 guests walked a Red Carpet into the Gala. Hundreds of fans lined the street across from the Convention Center to see the stars, get a photo and some lucky ones got an autograph. This is one of the biggest events in the Desert. Close to 4,000 people will see 180 Films from 68 countries. The PSIFF runs from Jan. 3 – 14.The Gala raised over 1.8 million dollars this year.

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