PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) 鈥� reflected on her career highlights and Meryl Streep praised Billie Eilish and 鈥淏arbie鈥� with saving the movie industry Thursday during one of the first stops of Hollywood鈥檚 awards season.
Stone, , , and Cillian Murphy were among the A-listers who descended on the desert for the Palm Springs International Film Festival鈥檚 annual opening gala. Stars were in an upbeat, and generally grateful, mood at the gala after a tumultuous year for their industry that included and rapid changes to the .
Stone, who snagged a best actress nomination for Sunday鈥檚 Golden Globes for her performance in 鈥淧oor Things,鈥� accepted the career achievement award, which was presented by her co-stars Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that I get to keep trying new things and for the opportunity to make choices when it comes to work because I know how rare and fleeting it can be to choose what you want to do or who you want to work with as an actor,鈥� she said.
Colman Domingo, and Da鈥橵ine Joy Randolph were among the honorees who fought back tears as they praised film鈥檚 distinct ability to express what it means to be human.
鈥淭he more I do this, the more I think acting may be a kind of teaching,鈥� Giamatti said as he accepted his award. 鈥淚t鈥檚 how we learn how to be human. It鈥檚 how we learn about our common humanity.鈥�
Sandra Oh introduced her 鈥淪ideways鈥� co-star, but Giamatti got back up on stage later in the evening to present the night鈥檚 breakthrough award to Randolph, who stars alongside Giamatti in 鈥淭he Holdovers鈥� 鈥� flick.
Randolph echoed her co-star鈥檚 sentiment, saying cinema is a medium uniquely poised to 鈥渋lluminate the human condition.鈥�
Domingo, who was being recognized for also became emotional as he shared with the room his understanding of his work.
鈥淔aith is what brought me here,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we have faith in one another, what an extraordinary world we could build. To channel that humanity and let that speak of the complex experience is what I consider my service as an artist.鈥�
This year鈥檚 awards season comes on the heels of the summer's and news that 2023 resulted in the best year-end seen since the pandemic.
鈥淵ou saved the movies last summer and all of our jobs,鈥� Streep said to recording artist and her brother and collaborator, Finneas O鈥機onnell 鈥� a reference to their song in the record-breaking , 鈥淏arbie.鈥�
The pair accepted their own award for 鈥淲hat Was I Made For,鈥� the final song and unofficial theme in the Greta Gerwig-directed film.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e delivered joy to countless generations and genders of people. And you should surf that wave, kids,鈥� Streep said, before presenting Carey Mulligan鈥檚 honor.
The night concluded with Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and a host of other stars from 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon鈥� accepting one of the night鈥檚 top honors.
While Scorsese conceded he has made a lot of movies, the acclaimed directed said this one stood out. 鈥淚t was an experience that I鈥檒l always treasure. One of the greatest times in my life,鈥� he said.
Krysta Fauria, The Associated Press
