Mary Hart: Last News

The Palm Spring International Film Awards Gala is always fun, and always BIG with a captial ‘B’. This year’s 36th edition, the 20th hosted by indefatigable Mary Hart who keeps it rolling along, no break for chat and dinner because once it starts you just eat while you applaud the many stars, and equally starry presenters handing them their very, shall we say, unique statuettes. The recipients are always, repeat always, plucked from the creme de la creme of Oscar hopefuls, and in fact as this season jumps into hyper gear with one ceremony after another, continuing with the Golden Globes tomorrow (the holidays are over, the Hollywood days have begun), every single one of Friday night’s PSIFF Awards Gala honorees, you will also see changing into formal attire and walking the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday. This event was a warmup, a chance to try out heartfelt, humorous speeches we are likely to be hearing variations of all season long from the lucky few who manage to go all the way to the Dolby in March. Fasten your seatbelts.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Palm Springs International Film Festival’s annual gala recognizing some of the year’s finest achievements in cinema Thursday evening saw several honorees let their guards down, allowing the tearducts to flow. Mary Hart returned as host for the starry awards gala held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Billie Eilish and Finneas became the first songwriters ever to receive the Chairman’s Award for their chart-topper “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.” Before paying tribute to their parents and recalling their journey as aspiring actors, Eilish got candid about the emotional song’s personal meaning.

The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, the largest arts and entertainment synagogue in the U.S., is offering complimentary seating to striking members of the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA and their immediate families for its High Holy Day Services on Rosh Hashanah (September 15 and 16) and Yom Kippur (September 24 and 25). Tickets for non-Temple members for both services normally cost $500 each.