The Palm Springs International Film Awards was an evening brimming with emotion, highlighted by a heartfelt tribute from Nicole Kidman, who received the International Star Award for her performance in the erotic thriller “Babygirl.”
The Academy Award-winning actress moved much of the 1,000-plus audience at the Palm Springs Convention Center to tears as she dedicated her award to her late mother, whom passed away on the same day she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in September.
Kidman’s award was presented by fellow Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared memories of meeting Kidman at the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony, 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’ve lost both my parents, and I’m in that place, like, ‘Oh, OK, this is different now,’” she said. “They’ve given me resilience, they’ve given me love, and they’ve given me the strength to keep moving forward.”
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As Kidman became visibly and audibly emotional, Curtis stepped forward, holding Kidman’s hand against her heart to steady her.
“I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you,” Kidman said.
The theme of family was a thread throughout the evening. “Sing Sing” star Colman Domingo, who received the Spotlight Award, reflected on losing both his parents in the same year in the mid-2000s.
While the evening was deeply emotional at times, it also featured moments of humor and gratitude.
“A Complete Unknown” star Timothée Chalamet made plenty of jokes about Jake Gyllenhaal as he presented to Denis Villeneuve, and then again, when he took the stage to receive the Chairman’s Award, joking he’ll be listening to a podcast as he drives back to L.A..
Jennifer Coolidge, Ariana Grande pose with Grande’s Rising Star Award for “Wicked” at the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Awards at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 3, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.
Chad Salvador
Ariana Grande was honored with the Rising Star Award for her role in the box office smash musical “Wicked.” Her award was presented by Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, who brought her signature wit to the stage. Despite their evident chemistry, Grande refrained from repeating her popular Coolidge impression, which she performed on “Saturday Night Live” in October.
Coolidge, known for her comedic brilliance, opened her introduction with a laugh. “It’s so great to be here in beautiful Palm Springs. I was wondering where all the L.A. gays had gone!” she joked.
Speaking about Grande’s performance as Glinda in “Wicked,” Coolidge said, “She did such an incredible job of making Glinda feel like a girl we’ve known forever.”
Coolidge went on to playfully mispronounce the name of the fictional school in “Wicked,” saying “Shits University” before correcting herself to “Shiz University.”
“In less capable hands, Glinda might feel two-dimensional, or maybe like a self-absorbed character, deeply shallow even. But Ari does something magical with Glinda. She allows us to see her true, unshielded heart, and she makes us fall in love with her in the process,” Coolidge said. “It’s the work of a mature actor, the work of a deep talent, and the work of a woman who has only begun to show us how high she can rise.”
Grande, in turn, shared her admiration for Coolidge. “Your comedic genius has inspired me my entire life,” Grande said as she accepted the Dale Chihuly glass trophy.The pop star-turned-actress also infused humor into her acceptance speech. “I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I never thought at the age of 31 I’d be hearing the words ‘rising star’ again. So I want to thank my good friends Botox and Juvederm,” Grande quipped.
She then reflected on her transition from music to acting. “I learned early on that laughter was one of our greatest escapes, and I remember the infectious impact 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 really missed that feeling. So this truly feels like the beginning of a new chapter. Maybe comedy is just another way of telling the truth,” Grande said.
The event honored several notable actors, filmmakers, and ensembles. Other recipients included Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist,” Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain,” Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor), Angelina Jolie (“Maria,” Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Mikey Madison (“Anora,” Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress), Denis Villeneuve (“Dune,” Visionary Award), the cast of “Conclave” (Ensemble Performance Award), and the team behind “Emilia Pérez,” including Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Edgar Ramirez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and writer, director, and producer Jacques Audiard (Vanguard Award).