USA: Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, and George Clooney join other A-list stars to walk the red carpet ahead of the Palm Springs International Film Festival

Record ID: 727108

  • Title: USA: Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, and George Clooney join other A-list stars to walk the red carpet ahead of the Palm Springs International Film Festival
  • Date: 9th January 2012
  • Summary: GARY OLDMAN POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARY OLDMAN SAYING: "This is one of the, one of the great, great projects, great roles. They don't come along often. With this director, with this cast. You take these when you can get them, because they are few and far between." WIDE SHOT OF RED CARPET WITH GEORGE CLOONEY AND PAN GARY OLDMAN MICHELLE WILLIAMS TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHELLE WILLIAMS SAYING: "It now trumps everything I've ever done as being the most challenging thing I've ever done. (Reporter: And why is that? In what ways was it challenging?) Um, to play somebody who's dear in people's hearts and minds. And to feel like you have a responsibility." OCTAVIA SPENCER POSING FOR PHOTOS CHARLIZE THERON POSING FOR PHOTOS FRENCH ACTOR JEAN DUJARDIN ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEAN DUJARDIN ON HIS FILM "THE ARTIST," SAYING: "For the audience, it's a silent movie. But for us it was a talking movie, because we spoke in French and English and gibberish sometime. We had lines. There was a lot of noise on set." OCTAVIA SPENCER TALKING WITH REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) OCTAVIA SPENCER ON HER FIRST RED CARPET, SAYING: "I am being presented the award by one of my closest friends, Melissa McCarthy. So, I'm thrilled. So I don't think anything will ever compare, because it's my first award." WIDE SHOT OF RED CARPET
  • Embargoed: 24th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NIJDHW6FUMEN6Z0OZRSA98PW
  • Story Text: Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, and George Clooney were among the A-list stars to walk the red carpet ahead of the 23rd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Awards Gala.
    The event was held Saturday (January 7, 2012) night in the popular California desert town often referred to as "Hollywood's Playground".
    It was one of the most star-studded in recent history.
    Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney received the top honors of the evening by winning the PSIFF "Chairman's Award" at the fete.
    He talked to reporters about being grateful for his profession.
    "Anytime people are nice to you, when you do what we do. Because we sort of live a very lucky life anyway. So when they, when their nice to you. It's icing on the cake. It's fun."
    Clooney enjoyed his biggest commercial success starring in the remake of the 1960 Rat Pack hit "Ocean's Eleven." But he is viewed as a strong Oscar contender for his current films "The Descendants" and "The Ides of March." Clooney nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for directing "The Ides of March."
    Legendary actress Glenn Close received the PSIFF "Career Achievement Award."
    She shared her thoughts on her critically-acclaimed film "Albert Nobbs," a project she said took 15 years to bring to the big screen.
    "This is a particular hard sell this movie. It's a great story, and the character is like none I have ever seen in any other movie. And, so, the fact that we finally did it. And we did it with the people involved, was a miracle."
    Close has recently been nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards for playing the title role.
    Brad Pitt earned a "Desert Palm Achievement for Acting" award. He said he and partner Angelina Jolie were happy to be there.
    "Ah, it's great. It's really exciting. You know it's the first one that kicks everything off. Get to see our friends. It's good."
    Pitt earned a best actor Golden Globe nomination for his role in "Moneyball." Earlier this year, a film he produced and starred in with actor Sean Penn called "The Tree of Life" won the Palm D'Orr Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
    Michelle Williams also snagged a "Desert Palm Achievement for Acting" award. Williams recently earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards nominations for her lead role in the independent film "My Week With Marilyn."
    She talked about how this role stacks up to other parts she's played.
    "It now trumps everything I've ever done as being the most challenging thing I've ever done. To play somebody who's dear in people's hearts and minds. And to feel like you have a responsibility."
    London-born actor Gary Oldman took home the International Star Award for his role in the British espionage film "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
    He talked about why he was pleased to play the part.
    "This is one of the, one of the great, great projects, great roles," noted Oldman. "They don't come along often. With this director, with this cast. You take these when you can get them, because they are few and far between."
    Meanwhile, British filmmaker Stephen Daldry, a three-time Academy Award nominee, was named the PSIFF "Director of the Year" for his new film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" starring Sandra Bullock.
    Other winners included Charlize Theron, who won the "Vanguard Award for Creative Ensemble along with director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody; Michel Hazanavicius, who won the "Sonny Bono Visionary Award" for his part in "The Artist;" and Octavia Spencer, who snagged the "Breakthrough Performance Award."
    The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America.
    It welcomes 130,000 attendees each year for its line-up of new and celebrated international features and documentaries.
    Past honorees have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Bridges, Danny Boyle, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Colin Firth, Ron Howard, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Kate Winslet.
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