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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 6 January 2020

Emotions run high in desert at Palm Springs awards gala

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) Story," then told the crowd lywood" writer-director Tar-
— Hollywood kicked off the of more than 2,000 din- antino with effusive praise,
year's compressed awards ner guests that she'd been saying he "makes movies
season with an emotional conceived in the nearby as if movies could save the
night in the desert. mountain town of Idyllwild world." The 56-year-old di-
The Palm Springs Interna- during production of the rector wiped a tear from his
tional Film Festival's annual 1966 Roger Corman biker eye.
opening gala is often treat- movie "The Wild Angels." "My joke that I say when
ed by honorees as a busi- Lopez apologized for being people are going to talk
nesslike, pro forma stop on overcome with emotion about me is I say, 'Speak
the industry's self-congrat- after an introduction from about me as if I were
ulation circuit. But Thursday "Hustlers" writer-director dead.'" Tarantino said.
found Laura Dern, Jennifer Lorene Scafaria. "And they never do! And
Lopez and Quentin Taran- "I'm so glad to be here but you did! Thank you, Greta." Joaquin Phoenix reacts as he accepts the chairman's award
for his role in "Joker" at the 31st annual Palm Springs Interna-
tino wiping away tears on- I want to run out the door, "The Irishman" star Robert tional Film Festival Awards Gala on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in
stage at the city's conven- I'm so nervous," she said. De Niro, introducing honor- Palm Springs, Calif.
tion center. The 50-year-old performer, ee Martin Scorsese, got po- Associated Press
Dern, presented with likely to land her first Os- litical when discussing festi-
the career achievement car nomination later this val founder Sonny Bono. Banderas and "Bombshell" Globe Awards.
award, was surprised with a month, noted that women "Sonny was a Republican, star Charlize Theron. Hollywood's awards sea-
video of her divorced par- held key roles both behind back in the days when Re- The non-televised gala was son, which has typically
ents Bruce Dern and Diane and in front of the camera publicans still supported a low-pressure affair, with stretched over more than
Ladd high-fiving as they on the crime drama. the arts, believed in sci- winners named in advance two months, is shorter than
praised her, saying "You "To all the talented women ence, and could put parti- and presented with sculp- usual this year. In an effort
got game." out there writing films, pro- sanship aside to champion ture trophies by friends and to reduce awards fatigue,
"That was really moving for ducing films and directing what's best for our country. directors. But it comes at the U.S. film academy an-
me," the 52-year-old ac- films, support one another. It's a different time," he said. a key time: Academy vot- nounced last summer that it
tress said. "And every kid And tell your stories," she Also taking home honors ers began casting ballots had moved the date of this
kind of wants to see their said. from Palm Springs: "Joker" for Oscar nominations on year's Academy Awards to
parents together." "Little Women" director star Joaquin Phoenix, "Judy" Thursday, and many hon- Feb. 9 from its typical late
Dern, who stars in "Little Greta Gerwig introduced star Renee Zellweger, "Pain orees will gather again in February or early March
Women" and "Marriage "Once Upon A Time ... in Hol- and Glory" star Antonio three days for the Golden slot.q