Saoirse Ronan & Brie Larson Receive Awards at Palm Springs Gala

She also presented the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award to her Hanna co-star Cate Blanchett.

Chairman of the Board recipient Matt Damon suggested his “The Martian” director Ridley Scott, for instance, was overdue even though he had helmed an Oscar best picture victor in “Gladiator“.

The emcee of the event, Mary Hart, also said that these Palm Springs Awards are “ground zero” for the season of awards.

“What he’s given to cinema, it’s not an accident”, Damon said of Scott. There are a handful of them on planet Earth.

Adam McKay (who directed the movie The Big Short), gave an ensemble award to the film’s company.

Brie Larson won the breakthrough performance prize for starring in the thriller Room, saying: “I mean it’s all over-exciting and overwhelming and I’ve never experienced it before so I’m just trying to take it one step at a time”. “And I didn’t realise how amusing she would be”, she said. “So I hope this is his year”, Damon said. I don’t know if you’re supposed to say that out loud. But…

More than 200 films from sixty countries will be screened.

She has been tipped for an Oscar win following her incredible performance in 1950’s drama flick Carol. “She’s a voracious reader as I have been, so we connected on that as well and she’s kind of brilliant and handsome”.

The festival announced its awards ahead of time, minimizing anxiety for actors and allowing plenty of time for informal reunions.

Michael Fassbender with his “Steve Jobs” co-star and award presenter Kate Winslet.

Taking to the stage on Saturday to accept the Desert Palm achievement award for her role in Carol, the 46-year old actress exuded elation as she danced and threw her hands up in the air with joy. “Outside of Palm Springs, I don’t think a lot of people realize Sonny was the poster child for diversification”, quipped the director. “I will forever be grateful to you for doing that for me”.

During the last three years, 28 of the gala’s 31 honorees were subsequently nominated for an Academy Award, Matzner told the crowd during the awards ceremony.