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The Palm Springs International Film Festival Begins a Busy 2009 Awards Season

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 1/7/2009

Dakota Fanning, who received the Rising Star Award, posed on the red carpet at the '09 Palm Springs International Film Festival Black Tie Awards Gala.

Clint Eastwood proudly shows off his Career Achievement Award at this year's film festival.

Honored for her work in the film "Rachel Getting Married," actress Anne Hathaway looked glamorous in this bejeweled strapless gown.

Leonardo DiCaprio was front and center when his latest blockbuster, "Revolutionary Road" was honored for the Ensemble Performance Award.
 

The star-studded 20th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival kicked off this year's big awards season on Tuesday, January 6th.

The Festival's Awards Gala is a stunning red carpet affair that draws some of the most glamorous actors, actresses, celebrity filmmakers and industry professionals.

On Tuesday evening, the film festival celebrated with a black-tie affair honoring a myriad of stars, but it was clear that the tragic death of John Travolta's 16-year-old son Jett was on the minds of many of those in attendance.

Just last year, Travolta was in town to pick up honors for his role in Hairspray. The actor's friend James Cromwell says he and John talked about Jett's difficulties. "I knew how concerned they were, how much they obviously loved their son and how deep a loss this must be to them," he told INSIDE EDITION, who was on the red carpet for the big event.

Leonardo DiCaprio was front and center when the cast of Revolutionary Road won Best Ensemble.

Clint Eastwood picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award. Just before going on stage INSIDE EDITION spotted the Oscar®-winner's wife Dina giving his lapels a last minute adjustment.

Receiving the Chairman's Award, Dustin Hoffman joked while being honored for his film career. He's already gearing up for Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, for which he is nominated in the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy category. So what does the star have left to do before the next big red carpet event? "Getting my tuxedo pressed," he laughed.

For more information on those honored at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival Black-Tie Awards Gala, see the list below. (Hyperlinks included a more in-depth look at the honorees).

Associated Black Tie Awards Gala
Breakthrough Performance Award: Freida Pinto

Career Achievement Award: Clint Eastwood

Chairman's Award: Dustin Hoffman

Desert Palm Achievement Award - Actress: Anne Hathaway

Desert Palm Achievement Award - Actor: Sean Penn

Ensemble Performance Award: The cast of Revolutionary Road

Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing: Alexandre Desplat

Life Achievement Award in Directing: Ron Howard

Rising Star Award: Dakota Fanning

Sonny Bono Visionary Award: Gus Van Sant

Spotlight Award: Amy Adams

   

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