The Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala kicks off award season each year, bringing Hollywood stars out to the desert for the event, held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The 29th annual Awards Gala, presented by American Express and sponsored by Cadillac, Entertainment Tonight and Chopard, was held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, with this year’s award recipients including:
- Allison Janney received the Spotlight Award, Actress for I, Tonya presented by her co-star Sebastian Stan
- Gal Gadot received the Rising Star Award, Actress for Wonder Woman presented by the film’s director Patty Jenkins
- Gary Oldman received the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor for Darkest Hour presented by Peter Fonda
- Holly Hunter received the Career Achievement Award for The Big Sick presented by her co-star and the film’s writer Kumail Nanjiani
- Jessica Chastain received the Chairman’s Award for Molly’s Game presented by the film’s writer/director Aaron Sorkin
- Mary J. Blige received the Breakthrough Performance Award for Mudbound presented by Common
- Sam Rockwell received the Spotlight Award, Actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri presented by Colin Farrell
- Saoirse Ronan received the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for Lady Bird presented by her co-star Laurie Metcalf
- The Shape of Water – Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, Guillermo del Toro, Alexandre Desplat, and J. Miles Dale were in attendance to receive the Vanguard Award presented by Salma Hayek
- Timothée Chalamet received the Rising Star Award, Actor for Call Me By Your Name presented by his co-star Armie Hammer
- Willem Dafoe received the Icon Award for The Florida Project presented by the film’s director Sean Baker
Our favorite looks from the evening included Mary J. Blige in an aqua embellished Elie Saab gown tied at the neck with a bow:
Gal Gadot in a bright yellow Esteban Cortazar dress featuring cutout detailing:
Saoirse Ronan in a two-tone Gucci dress embellished with bows and rhinestones and Gucci glitter platforms with bee accents:
Jessica Chastain in a black Givenchy gown with lace accents:
Salma Hayek in a green lace Gucci gown with accordion pleating and a trompe l’oeil bow belt:
Photos courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Palm Springs International Film Festival
