The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Angelina Jolie is the recipient of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, for Pablo Larrain’s “Maria.” The Film Awards will take place on January 2nd, 2025, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, and the festival will run through January 13th, 2025. The event will be presented by Silvercrest and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.
“Maria presents the iconic Angelina Jolie in the role of a lifetime as she embodies Maria Callas, the world-renowned opera legend. Jolie’s extraordinary portrayal captures the heart and complexity of an artist whose life was as captivating as her music,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “In honor of her mesmerizing transformation into this groundbreaking yet tragic figure, we are thrilled to present Angelina Jolie with the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress.”
Past winners of the Desert Palm Achievement Award for Actress include last year’s recipient Emma Stone, who went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Marion Cotillard, Viola Davis, Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, and Renée Zellweger.
From director Pablo LarraÃn, “Maria“ stars Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. “Maria“ reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life. The film also features Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Stephen Ashfield, with Valeria Golino and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Mandrax. “Maria“ releases in select theaters on November 27th, 2024, and on Netflix on December 11th, 2024. Â
Angelina Jolie is an Academy Award-winning actress, director, and producer, with film credits including Walt Disney Pictures’ “Maleficent” series, “Salt,” and “Girl, Interrupted.” Jolie directed, produced, and co-wrote the critically acclaimed feature “First They Killed My Father” and the upcoming “Without Blood;” additionally, she directed the Oscar-nominated drama “Unbroken.” She is a Tony Award-winning producer on the acclaimed new Broadway musical “The Outsiders.”
With over 20 years working as a humanitarian focusing on work with refugees and human rights, Jolie also champions local leadership in environmental conservation and has funded schools, health, and education initiatives globally. Additionally, she is the founder of the Maddox Foundation, an integrated development program headquartered in Cambodia focusing on conservation, agriculture, education, and economic development projects in the area. She is the founder of Atelier Jolie, a hub for artists, empowering people to participate in creating their own fashion with a focus on sustainability. Jolie is also co-author of “Know Your Rights and Claim Them,” a guide for youth.
What do you think of this news for the Palm Springs International Film Festival? Have you seen “Maria” yet? If so, what did you think? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
