Palm Springs Festival Kicks Off Awards Season with Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Benedict Cumberbatch — variety.com

A-list stars and filmmakers turned out Saturday evening on a cold, clear desert night to celebrate the Palm Springs Film Festival honorees at what’s unofficially become the launch of the awards season. Though Robert Downey Jr. and Brad Pitt were presenters, not honorees, they helped add glamour to an evening packed full of warm anecdotes told by longtime collaborators. Benedict Cumberbatch, Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Michael Keaton and Shirley MacLaine were among other big names at the awards ceremony, hosted by Mary Hart, which recognizes a cross-section of films in the Oscar conversation.

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