Palm Springs Film Fest: Awards Gala

Last night I attended the black tie Awards Gala for the Palm Springs Film Festival. (photo at left from The Desert Sun). This event is among the most prestigious awards shows and is the precursor to The Academy Awards in Hollywood. A frenzy of international media waited for the arrivals. Eager reporters were perched with their camera crews to obtain interviews; photographers perked up to attention as celebrities emerged from stretch limousines under the desert sky. It was an exciting event- so much preparation had gone into the evening and there was so much at stake. Would all the celebrities actually show up as promised? Would anyone make a spectacle of themselves on stage from too much champagne? Would the dinner be served to standard? These are things that keep board members of the Palm Springs International Film Society awake at night. But the time for worrying was now over. Adrenaline kicks in and things just come together. THE HOTTIE AND THE MOVIE STARS...ZAC EFRON

above: Rick Rockhill, Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens...we're practically close friends now.
RED CARPET ARRIVALS
It was a glamorous evening at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala. There was a huge crowd of star watchers along the front entrance, may of whom assembled hours in advance. When Zac Efron arrived, the screams of young girls was deafening. Elijah Kelley, Bruce Willis, John Travolta and Jaime Fox also elicited shrieks of joy from the stands. The red carpet was filled with major celebrities as they made their way into the awards dinner.

above left: Stockard Channing and John Travolta, above right: Halle Berry

above left: Author Diablo Cody and above right: Barry Manilow (he's practically my neighbor)

Above left: Brittany Snow, above right: Allison Janney

above left: John Travolta, above right: Nikki Blonsky

Wow, More Zac Efron photos

above left: Zac Efron, above right: Zac Efron. I wonder how many times I can mention his name here?

Oh, here's another Zac Efron photo:

above left: Zac Efron, above right Jack Jones

In addition, other famous attendees included Jason Bateman, Phil Donahue, Tom Bosley, JK Simmons, Senator Barbara Boxer & Adam Shankman
Once inside, the party got started quickly...

above left: the ballroom was festive with potted palm trees and dramatic lighting. above right: a view of the main stage

above left: There were bars made of solid ice. above right: The dinner tables has centerpieces of white roses.

above: Me and John stop for a quick photo

THE AWARDS CEREMONY

Mary Hart, of Entertainment Tonight served as the emcee and host for the evening. Sean Penn was honored with the Director of the Year Award, Daniel Day-Lewis and Halle Berry with Desert Palm Achievement Awards, Emile Hirsch and Nikki Blonsky with Rising Star Awards, Joe Wright with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, James Newton Howard with the Frederick Loewe Achievement Award for Film Composing, Marion Cotillard with the Breakthrough Performance Award, Jerry Weintraub with the Screen Actors Guild Foundation Patron of the Arts Award, Juno with the Chairman’s Vanguard Award, and the cast of Hairspray with this year’s Ensemble Cast Award.

above: Mary Hart, of Entertainment Tonight was the host for the evenings events

RISING STAR AWARD

above left: Laura Linney introduces Emile Hirsch and above right: Emile Hirsch accepts a Rising Star Award

more awards coverage continued below in the next post...