Colman Domingo, Cillian Murphy, Greta Gerwig, Billie Eilish and more are also set to be awarded during the ceremony on Jan. 4, 2024.
Paul Giamatti will receive the Icon Award for his role in The Holdovers at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Jan. 4 in Palm Springs, California.
"In The Holdovers, Paul Giamatti inhabits a complex character who is both challenging and rewarding, and ultimately reminds us of what it means to be connected as human beings," said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. "For his storied career of quintessential cinematic roles, it is our honor to present the Icon Award to Paul Giamatti for this career-best performance."
Elsewhere at the festival, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell will be recognized. The siblings will receive the Chairman’s Award for their critically acclaimed song, "What Was I Made For?" from the record-breaking Barbie movie.
"We are thrilled to present the prestigious Chairman's Award to Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for their celebrated original song 'What Was I Made For?' from Barbie," said Chandi. "Billie and Finneas, with their unparalleled talent, have created a beautiful and ethereal ballad that perfectly evokes the poignancy of the journey Margot Robbie’s Barbie takes in the film. The Palm Springs International Film Festival proudly honors these visionary artists for their award-worthy musical contribution."
Danielle Brooks is also getting her flowers this awards season. For her role in the upcoming musical adaptation of The Color Purple, the actress will receive the Spotlight Award, Actress, at the Film Awards ceremony.
"In The Color Purple, Danielle Brooks revisits her Tony-nominated portrayal of Sofia, a force to be reckoned with who challenges traditional female roles and stands for what she believes in," said Chandi. "For her exceptional work and a scene-stealing performance, it is our honor to present the Spotlight Award, Actress to Danielle Brooks."
Other 2024 honorees include Colman Domingo, who will be honored with the Spotlight Award, Actor award for his performance in Rustin.
"In Rustin, Colman Domingo demonstrates his impressive talents bringing to life civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, an organizer of the 1963 March on Washington," said Chandi. "For this career defining performance, it is our honor to present the Spotlight Award, Actor to Colman Domingo."
Carey Mulligan is being recognized for her performance as Leonard Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre, in Bradley Cooper’s biopic, Maestro. She'll be honored with the International Star Award, Actress award.
"In this historical and personal examination of famed composer Leonard Bernstein, Carey Mulligan measures both ends of true love – its extraordinary heights and intense lows – conveying a striking role as Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein," said Chandi. "For this performance and her remarkable stature in world cinema, we are honored to present the International Star Award, Actress to Carey Mulligan."
American Fiction star Jeffrey Wright will be recognized with the Career Achievement Award.
"Jeffrey Wright has a prolific acting career from his Tony Award-winning performance in the Broadway production of Angels in America to his TV roles in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Westworld and on the big screen in Basquiat, The Batman, The French Dispatch and the James Bond films," Chandi raved. "In his latest film American Fiction, he gives an exceptional and smart performance as an author on the brink of a choice between his integrity and giving in to societal stereotypes. For this career-best performance, which will be recognized throughout this award season, we are honored to present the Career Achievement Award to Jeffrey Wright."
Greta Gerwig will receive the Director of the Year Award for her successful blockbuster Barbie
"Director Greta Gerwig has brought us the cinematic experience of the year with Barbie, the perfect blend of comedy, emotion and adventure that has both entertained and resonated with audiences, becoming a cultural touchstone around the world," said Chandi. "Gerwig is a masterful filmmaker, and her vision is brought to life so vividly by both the script she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, and by her clear and singular collaboration with her extraordinary crafts teams, whose visuals are matched only by the outstanding performances delivered by Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and the entire cast. It is our honor to present the Director of the Year Award to Greta Gerwig."
Da'Vine Joy Randolph will be honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award for her role in The Holdovers .
"In The Holdovers, Da'Vine Joy Randolph brings not only her significant comedic talents to the table, but also extremely moving emotional depth to her portrayal of Barton Academy head cook Mary Lamb, who is grieving the recent loss of her son," Chandi praised. "It is our honor to present the Breakthrough Performance Award, to this talented actress in celebration of her outstanding work and recognizing her emerging talent."
Cillian Murphy will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor, for his intense portrayal of the titular physicist in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.
"After working together on five previous films, including The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk, Cillian Murphy and writer-director Christopher Nolan reunite for one of the most ambitious and epic films of the year. Murphy gives a stunning portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer as a conflicted scientist leading the Manhattan Project to produce the world's first atomic bomb," said Chandi. "For this career-best performance, we are honored to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor, to Cillian Murphy."
Emma Stone will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress for her role in Yorgos Lanthimos' upcoming dark fantasy-comedy, Poor Things, in which she plays Bella, a young woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist.
"Emma Stone continues to exert influence as one of the most important actresses of this generation, whose performances are always exceptional no matter the role. In her latest film Poor Things, Emma delivers a burning intensity and character bound for liberation," said Chandi. "There is no one better suited for this role, and it is our honor to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, to Emma Stone."
The actress was previously honored at the festival in 2016, winning the Vanguard Award alongside co-star Ryan Gosling and director Damien Chazelle for La La Land -- she went on that year to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the movie musical. This year, the Vanguard Award will be presented to Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon.
The Palm Springs International Film Awards is set to take place on Jan. 4, 2024 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival -- sponsored by Entertainment Tonight and IHG Hotels & Resorts -- running through Jan. 15.
On top of this, Penélope Cruz's awards season is starting early!
On on Jan. 5, 2024, the Ferrari actress will receive Variety's Creative Impact in Acting Award during the mag's annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch presented by DIRECTV, held at the Parker Palm Springs.
“More than 30 years after her stunning film debut in Bigas Lunas' Venice Festival prize winner, Jamón Jamón, Penélope Cruz continues startling global film audiences with her limitless versatility in films created by the world's finest directors," said Variety’s Executive Vice President Content, Steven Gaydos. "Her long association with Pedro Almodóvar has won her major accolades, and she took home the Oscar for Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She's now at the peak of her powers in Michael Mann's masterpiece, Ferrari. It's Variety's great honor to present our Creative Impact in Acting to Penélope Cruz, for both her illustrious career and for her powerful performance as the unforgettable woman at the heart of Ferrari."
In her latest film, Cruz stars as Laura opposite Adam Driver's Enzo Ferrari -- the iconic race care driver and entrepreneur. Ferrari is directed by Michael Mann and hits theaters on Dec. 25.
Variety will also dole out honors to Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos and Killers of the Flower Moon co-writer Eric Roth at the Friday event. The mag will reveal its 10 Directors to Watch on Jan. 3.
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