Last night I attended the 20th Annual Awards Gala for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The black tie event was held at the Convention Center in beautiful downtown Palm Springs. Thousands of fans and celebrity-watchers lined the streets early for a glimpse of their favorite stars. When I arrived, there were stretch limousines lined up approaching the red carpet, dropping off celebrities non-stop. The press was in full force, hundreds of international photographers, TV networks, Entertainment Tonight, and newspaper reporters all packed along the red carpet entrance. As I walked in I saw Ron Howard giving an interview, Dakota Fanning signing autographs, Tom Bosley posing for photos, along with Kathy Bates, Mira Sorvino, Suzanne Somers and Mary Hart just to name a few. It was a night of celebrities galore. I took most of the photos here, although I borrowed a few of the red carpet from the Desert Sun. Enjoy!
The Red Carpet!
above: the Red Carpet entrance, where celebrities were ushered into the building.
above: Mary Hart, host of the evening's events
above: Mira Sorvino poses on the red carpet
above: Dakota Fanning who was so sweet and gracious to fans.
above: Leonardo Di Caprio looking dapper.
above: Leonardo DiCaprio really looks great up close too.
above: Kathy Bates says hi
The Awards Gala
Once inside, there was a cocktail hour to allow all the guests to arrive and be seated. The Pat Rizzo orchestra entertained the audience with terrific jazz and swing standards.
above: the dinner tables were festive and set with salads ready to go. Beautiful centerpieces of red roses adorned the tables.
above: Dessert was a delicious "chocolate bombe" cake. Yum!
The Award Ceremony
above: Amy Adams accepts the Spotlight Award
above: Dessert was a delicious "chocolate bombe" cake. Yum!
The Award Ceremony
above: Amy Adams accepts the Spotlight Award
above: Anne Hathaway with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for Acting
above: Dakota Fanning accepts the Rising Star Award
above: Donald Sutherland
above: Frank Langella
above: Freida Pinto accepts the Breakthrough Performance Award for "Slumdog Millionaire"
above: Clint Eastwood accepting the Career Achievement Award
above: Ben Stiller was a presenter who introduced Dustin Hoffman.
above: Dustin Hoffman with the Chairman's Award
above: Ben Stiller was a presenter who introduced Dustin Hoffman.
above: Dakota Fanning accepts the Rising Star Award
above: Donald Sutherland
above: Frank Langella
above: Freida Pinto accepts the Breakthrough Performance Award for "Slumdog Millionaire"
above: James Cromwell
above: Josh Brolin
above: Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the Ensemble Performance Award on behalf of the cast of Revolutionary Road, who were also present on stage.
above: Sean Penn accepts the Desert Palm Achievement Award for "Milk"
above: Ron Howard accepts the Director's Lifetime Achievement Award
The Glamorous VIP After Party!
Following the Awards Gala, I attended the exclusive VIP After Party, held at the Parker Palm Springs hotel and resort. The after party had a restricted guest list, most of the celebrities attended and chatted with the guests. The dance floor area had "Pop Art" images of the celebrity award recipients.
above: the curtain into the VIP area within the After Party. Leo DiCaprio's Pop Art image hangs at the entrance.
above: a Pop Art image of Dustin Hoffman
above: Leo Di Caprio and Amy Adams Pop Art outside the VIP seating area.
above: Anne Hathaway Pop Art above the dance floor.
above: here I am posing with a bejewelled guest with a fan that read "No Paparazzi", which illuminated when a flash went off. Great way to dissuade photos, huh?
The Palm Springs Savant Celebrity Friend Photos
above: With Freida Pinto
above: with the lovely and talented Anne Hathaway
above: Pals Ben Stiller and Josh Brolin
above: Pals Ben Stiller and Josh Brolin
above: James Cromwell is so much taller than me. We had a nice chat.
above: With Suzanne Somers-she's practically my neighbor, and really, really sweet. We discussed her new book "Breakthrough".
Well that's all for today-hope you enjoyed my coverage of the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala. I'll cover a few of the films later this week. Thanks for stopping by today!
-Rick Rockhill
-Rick Rockhill
O.k. I'm incredibly jealous. Someone please get me into the Golden Globes or Academy Awards ceremony this year DAMNIT!
ReplyDeleteI wanna mingle with the stars too, not just live among them, but hardly ever see them!
WOW! The Savant strikes again. Much better pics than last year.
ReplyDeleteOh, oh gods, I am hyperventilating here. JEALOUS!!!!!!!!! ;) I am such a huge Dakota Fanning fan, I think she's so talented and that she's really growing into her own and she seems so gracious which is nice in a young actor. And Anne Hathaway??? Also a huge fan of hers. Love the pics, love the post! Thank you so much for putting all this up for us!!! And glad you had a good time! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat coverage of the event this year. Great pictures too. Love the one of you and Suzanne Somers...and LOVE her new book!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun this celebrity meeting thing. I wouldn't mind Josh Brolin's hand around my shoulder :)
ReplyDeleteYou aren't kidding. James Cromwell is massive.
ReplyDeleteRick, it looks like you had such a wonderful time. You photos are fantastic too!
ReplyDeleteDakota Fanning is so cute-I'm glad she's growing up to be such a nice young woman and not a snotty brat.
Thanks for sharing you very cool world with us. :)
Thank you for including us in this exciting event. Everything looks so very elegant.
ReplyDeleteI think of all the celebrities I'd love to meet the three at the very top of my list are Nathan Lane, Robin Williams, and Ellen Degeneres.
What great photos. They really pulled in the big names! Good job!
ReplyDeleteYou really are in the thick of things. Lots of pictures to add to your sidebar! I'm looking forward to continued coverage of this celebrity event.
ReplyDeleteIy looks like it was quite a GRAND OPENING! It is interesting how those "images" are really all based on what Andy Warhol created first....So really, to be aqccurate, these should be called Warhol Type Pop Art Images...lol!
ReplyDeleteYou DO get around, Rick....and what fun.
Dakota Fanning is SOOO Grown up! I mean...the last time I looked she was a little firl of five or six!!!
Wow an impressive night! Looks like you had a ball!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you x
Man you're connected!
ReplyDeleteWho need People magazine or TMZ when we've got Ricky!
ReplyDelete:-D)
Wow, you really hobnob with the stars. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
Man-O-Man, Rick, you sure make those celebs look good standing next to you! looks like a FUN time! Save me a dessert?
ReplyDeleteWOw you never cease to amaze me with showing a side of Palm Springs I will never know. The pictures and your sharing about the event, made me feel like I was right there with you! Thanks! Caroline
ReplyDeleteI finally figured out how to join your blog. Again what a wonderful sharing of your experience with the Palm Springs Internat. Film Festival. Loved all your pictures, You looked like you had a great time. I love hearing about this side of Palm Springs. What fun! Thanks, Rick!
ReplyDeleteWhat? Dakota Fanning grew up????
ReplyDeleteYou do a great job at rubbing elbows, Rick.
And Anne Hathaway's eyes only get bigger every year :)
WOW! What a night! I must admit I am a bit jealous. :-)
ReplyDeleteDakota Fanning sure is growing up.
Wow! Just WOW! You were with Anne Hathaway !!!& Leo Di Caprio!!!!
ReplyDeleteI must see the Slumdog Millionaire!
Great Pictures Rick!!
wow, wow, wow that is an amazing night you had rick!
ReplyDeleteRick....
ReplyDeleteBetty G. will be coming down on January 16th for a 4pm Screening of a funny film that her son, Andrew Parks is in...as is she....!
"A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT"....it will be screened on that Friday and also on Saturday morning....She wasn't sure of which venue...But, maybe it is in the printed material.....If you get a chance, iy might be fun to see it and meet her, too....!
Looks like you had a great time!!
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time I'd have said, "awwwwwww, I want to attend that" but now I must say, and I'm sure you get this a lot, like when someone knows that someone is a lawyer, chances are they get asked alot of "so I got this ticket,.."type questions.
My questions to you, the maven of all martini's is this, I've adopted a puppy-a rescue last chance one..any suggestions? Tips from the Savant?
Thanks so much!
If you're ever in Chicago again, let me know, I'll buy you some Pizza :)
Always,
Elizabeth!