Palm Springs International Film Awards to honor Angelina Jolie with top actress prize for ‘Maria’

It was announced on Nov. 18 that the Palm Springs International Film Awards will honor Angelina Jolie with its Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress. She is being honored for her performance as opera singer Maria Callas in the Pablo Larrain biopic “Maria.” The awards will take place on Jan. 3, 2025.

Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement, “‘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. 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.”

She joins a list of other high-profile Oscar contenders who have been announced for these prizes. Adrien Brody‘s “The Brutalist” performance has earned him the Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor. “Conclave” is set to receive the Ensemble Performance Award. Other honorees will include Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor); Nicole Kidman (International Star Award); Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award); and the film “Emilia Pérez” (Vanguard Award).

This is not the first honor for Jolie’s performance in “Maria.” She is also set to receive the Gotham Awards Performer Tribute for her star turn in the Netflix film. And of course she is also one of the top contenders for the Best Actress Oscar. Currently 89% of expert journalists (28 out of 32) are betting on her to receive a nom, with  12.5% of them (four out of 32) predicting her to win. It’s worth noting that last year’s Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, went to Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), who ended up with the Academy Award.