Leonardo DiCaprio delivered a passionate reminder about the soul of filmmaking at the Palm Springs Film Festival on Friday night, urging Hollywood to prioritize cinema over disposable content.

“Films are meant to be experienced together, in a theater,” DiCaprio said in a pre-recorded message. “That belief matters now more than ever. Original films are becoming harder to make and harder to protect. But movies still matter not content  cinema. Stories created by people, meant to be shared in a dark room as a communal experience.”

The “One Battle After Another” star accepted his honor virtually, as he was unable to attend the festival in person. According to Variety, DiCaprio’s absence was due to ongoing political tensions involving Venezuela, which triggered widespread flight cancellations across the Caribbean, where the actor had been spending the holiday season. His co-stars Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor stepped in to accept the award on his behalf.

The 37th annual International Film Awards, held in Palm Springs, California, marked the ceremonial launch of Hollywood’s annual awards-season spring, spotlighting many of the year’s most buzzed-about films and performances.

The evening unfolded as a celebration of artistry and solidarity, with speakers repeatedly stressing the importance of original storytelling and the preservation of movie theaters as cultural spaces.

Michael B. Jordan, honored with the Icon Award, encouraged fellow artists to keep creating stories that connect and uplift audiences. “The films we’re honoring tonight push us to be better, to understand one another more deeply,” he said. “And maybe when the theater lights come up, we can step back into the world together.”

Recording artist Cyrus accepted the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for her song “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash, calling on artists to move beyond competition and focus on community. “Performance isn’t a scoreboard,” she said. “Every artist bares their soul in a unique way, and each contribution leaves a lasting mark.”

Jane Fonda briefly guided the audience through a breathing exercise before presenting the Vanguard Award to Hamnet collaborators Chloé Zhao, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. Fonda credited Zhao for inspiring the moment, noting the director often leads similar grounding exercises before screenings.

Guillermo del Toro received the Visionary Award alongside his Frankenstein cast and reflected on the recent loss of his older brother. He spoke about the enduring relevance of Mary Shelley’s novel in an era shaped by technological anxiety and social division. “We never learn,” del Toro said, “and sometimes the only way to talk about humanity is through monsters.”

Timothée Chalamet was presented with the Spotlight Award and spoke about ambition and self-belief through the lens of his “Marty Supreme”character. Mahershala Ali later honored Ethan Hawke with the

Career Achievement Award, recalling how Hawke’s early performances helped shape his own path as an actor.In his speech, Hawke reflected on the friends, collaborators and mentors who influenced his life and career, including the late River Phoenix. “I’m the sum of everyone who helped shape me,” he said.

Hawke returned to the stage later alongside former “First Reformed”co-star Amanda Seyfried to present her with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for Actress. Seyfried noted the full-circle moment of receiving the same honor as DiCaprio. “Leo inspired me to become an actor,” she said. “So sharing the same award title feels strange  and kind of amazing.”

The mood lightened when Adam Sandler accepted the Chairman’s Award from Laura Dern, delivering a brief stand-up routine that imagined a quieter version of his life. “I’d still have a Netflix deal,” he joked, “except I’d be paying them to watch the last season of Stranger Things.”

The ensemble cast of “Sentimental Value”received the International Star Award, while Rose Byrne earned the Breakthrough Performance Award for Actress for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”, humorously acknowledging the irony of receiving a “breakthrough” honor in her 40s. The ceremony concluded with Kate Hudson accepting the Icon Award for Actress for her role in “Song Sung Blue”.

Awards season continues this week with the Critics’ Choice Awards, followed by the Golden Globes next Sunday.

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