With the SAG strike behind us, the all-important film festivals that occur right in the heart of awards season are starting to take shape. A key stop is always the Palm Springs International Film Festival gala, which has just announced its first award, the Vanguard, which goes to a film’s director as well as its ensemble cast. It is probably no surprise that Apple Original Films and Paramount’s epic western drama, Killers of the Flower Moon.
Its legendary director Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone will be on hand to accept at the event on January 4 in the desert city. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, winning much acclaim. It opened a wide theatrical release through Paramount Pictures on October 20 and has earned well north of $100 million globally to date.
“Killers of the Flower Moon is a powerful and important film not only for its cinematic poetry but also as
a complicated story about the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, one which fully
illustrates the evils of racism and corruption,” PSIFF Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said.
Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Gladstone), Killers of the Flower Moon tracks the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight after oil was discovered underneath their land. It also stars Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons along with a cast of Native American actors including veteran Tantoo Cardinal. Scorsese directed from a screenplay he wrote with Eric Roth, based on David Grann’s best-selling book. The film features an original score from the late Robbie Robertson.
Past recipients of the fest’s Vanguard Award include Best Picture Oscar winners Green Book and The
Shape of Water and nominees Belfast, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine, The Fablemans and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
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Palm Springs will be rolling out its annual awards list leading up to the festival, which runs January 4-15 in the desert city east of Los Angeles. Here’s the list of recipients so far:
Vanguard Award: Killers of the Flower Moon