The Palm Springs International Film Awards were an emotional evening, highlighted by a heartfelt tribute from Nicole Kidman, who received the International Star Award for her performance in the thriller “Babygirl.”
The Oscar-winning actress thrilled the audience of more than 1,000 at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Friday night when she dedicated her award to her late mother, who died the same day she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in September.
Kidman was presented with the award by fellow Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared memories of meeting Kidman at the 2023 Academy Awards, where Kidman was nominated for her role in “Being the Ricardos.” Curtis praised Kidman’s driving force as an artist: love.
When Kidman took the stage, she spoke candidly about her grief and the changes in her life. “I lost my parents, and I’m in that place of, ‘Okay, it’s different now,'” she said. “They gave me resilience, they gave me love, and they gave me the strength to keep moving forward.”
When Kidman became visibly and audibly emotional, Curtis stepped forward and placed Kidman’s hand over her heart to steady her.
“I’m so grateful to be able to say her name to all of you,” Kidman said.
Family was a theme throughout the evening. “Sing Sing” star Colman Domingo, who won a Spotlight Award, opened up about losing his parents that same year in the mid-2000s.
Although the evening was very emotional at times, it also included moments of humor and gratitude.
“Totally Anonymous” star Timothée Chalamet joked that he has more production hours than award-winner Denis Villeneuve’s Jake Gyllenhaal, and then again, when he took the stage to accept the Chairman’s Award, Chalamet said he “brings in the spirit” of the greats . Artists such as Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan, Heath Ledger, Nina Simone, Joaquin Phoenix, and Townes Van Zandt.
Jennifer Coolidge and Ariana Grande on the red carpet in Palm Springs
Chad Salvador
Ariana Grande was honored with the Rising Star Award for her role in the box office hit musical “Wicked.” Her award was presented by Emmy Award winner Jennifer Coolidge, who brought her signature wit to the stage. Despite their obvious chemistry, Grande refrained from repeating her famous Coolidge impression, which she performed on Saturday Night Live in October.
Coolidge, known for her comedic brilliance, opened her introduction with laughter. “It’s great to be here in beautiful Palm Springs. I was wondering where all the gays in LA went!” she joked.
Speaking about Grande’s performance as Glinda in Wicked, Coolidge said: “She did an amazing job of making Glinda feel like a girl we’ve known forever.”
Coolidge went on to mispronounce the name of the fictional school in “Wicked,” saying “Shits University” before correcting herself to “Shiz University.”
“In less capable hands, Glenda might feel two-dimensional, or perhaps like a very self-absorbed, shallow character. But Ari does something magical with Glenda. She allows us to see her true, unprotected heart, and makes us fall in love with her in this The process.” “It is the work of a mature actor, the work of a deep talent, and the work of a woman who is just beginning to show how high she can go.”
Grande, in turn, expressed her admiration for Coolidge. “Your comedic genius has inspired me my whole life,” Grande said as she accepted the Dale Chihuly Glass Award. The pop star-turned-actress also injected humor into her acceptance speech. “I’ve been singing since I was a kid, so I never thought at 31 years old that I’d hear the phrase ‘rising star’ again. So I want to thank my good friends Botox and Juvederm.
Then she thought about her transition from music to acting. “I learned early on that laughter was one of our greatest escapes, and I remember the contagious effect it had, not only on the people in my life, but how it fed me in return. Over the past 10 years, when I was solely focused on music, I missed that feeling.” Really. So this really feels like the beginning of a new chapter. Maybe comedy is just another way of telling the truth,” Grande said.
The ceremony witnessed the honoring of a number of prominent actors, directors and musical bands. Other winners include: Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist,” Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain,” Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor), and Angelina Jolie (“Maria,” Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress ), Mickie Madison (“Anora,” Outstanding Performance Award, Actress), Denis Villeneuve (“Dune,” Visionary Award), the cast of “Conclave” (Ensemble Performance Award), and the team behind “Emilia Perez,” including Selena Gomez , Zoe Saldaña, Edgar Ramírez, Carla Sofía Gascón, and writer, director and producer Jacques Audiard (Vanguard Award).