Arts & Culture

Emile Hirsch and Nikki Blonsky to Receive Rising Star Awards

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Mary Hart, Emile HirschEmile Hirsch and Nikki Blonsky have reason to celebrate as it was announced that the two young actors would each receive a Rising Star Award at the 19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. Festival chairman Earl Greenburg made the announcement at a private event at the historic Charlie Chaplin home of Patricia Barry in Beverly Hills, CA, hosted by Festival board member Stephen Breimer, which Hirsch attended.

The Festival will take place January 3-14, 2008, with the Awards Gala being held on January 5th, hosted by Mary Hart of “Entertainment Tonight. The Festival, which continues to grow each year, features a stellar line-up of more than 230 films from 65 countries, seminars, special events and Gala receptions.

Festival Director Darryl Macdonald said at the event, “PSIFF is positioned on the annual film calendar to be a key promotional platform and an integral indicator of the front runners in the year-end awards sweepstakes.  Fully 38 Oscar nominations went to films and filmmaking guests who were featured at this year’s event, and we expect that trend to continue in future years.  It’s an integral part of our reputation both for programming excellence and prescient choices in the talent showcased at the Festival and in our Awards Gala.”
Darryl Macdonald, Mary Hart, Earl Greenburg

Hirsch stars in "Into the Wild" a Paramount Vantage film written and directed by Sean Penn. Previously a best selling book by Jon Krakauer, this film is based on a true story of a man who lets go of all his possessions, including all of his savings which he gives away to charity, on a quest to hitchhike to Alaska and live in the wilderness.

Festival chairman Earl Greenburg said of Hirsch’s performance, “Emile Hirsch has earned a reputation as the foremost leading man of his generation and his performance in “Into the Wild” solidifies that.”

Keeping himself busy, Hirsh just finished production on Speed Racer, directed by Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski and set for release on May 9, 2008. Starring as the title character, he worked alongside Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Christina Ricci and John Goodman.

Working with an all-star cast is nothing new to Hirsh, having previously worked alongside Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone in Nick Cassavetes’ Alpha Dog, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. Playing Jesse James, Hirsch was able to show off his acting chops as the youngest man to be on FBI’s Most Wanted List.

Hirsh has also been seen in The Lords of Dogtown, a film in which he played opposite Heath Ledger, Imaginary Heroes with Jeff Daniels and Sigourney Weaver and directed by Dan Harris, The Girl Next Door with Elisha Cuthbert, The Mudge Boy, The  Emperor’s Club and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys.

Peter Bart, Michael Jones, Patricia Barry, Mayor Don Odon

The other Rising Star Award will go to Nikki Blonsky, who stars in Hairspray, a film that marks the 18 year old’s professional debut. Working at Cold Stone Creamery in Great Neck, the then unknown actress was thrilled to quit her day job when she learned that she snagged the coveted role and would be working alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta and Zac Efron in the remake of this 1988 film. Directed by Adam Shankman, the film tells the story of a teenager obsessed with dancing who also wants to send out the message that bigger is beautiful.

Nikki BlonskyGreenburg has plenty of praise for the young newcomer, stating that “Nikki Blonsky gives a truly outstanding performance in her first big screen role as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, which we’re pleased to recognize at this year’s event.”

Blonsky also recently wrapped up production on “Harold” with Cuba Gooding Jr., Spencer Breslin and Ally Sheedy.

Trained at the four-time Grammy Foundation Signature School Great Neck South High School, Blonsky portrayed “Madame Tanardeau” in Les Miserables, “Mrs. Lovett” in Sweeney Todd, “Rebecca Hillicker” in The Laramie Project and “Kate” in Kiss Me Kate, all on her high school stage.

A volunteer and supporter of the Special Olympics, Blonsky has also had the honor of of performing an original song for Sarah Hughes’ homecoming parade in Great Neck after receiving a gold medal for her figure skating at the 2002 Olympics.

One of the largest film festivals in North America, and seen by distributors as one of the best marketing tools and a foreshadowing for the Academy Award, The Palm Springs International Film Festival was founded by then mayor Sonny Bono in 1990.

Stephen BreimerJessica Biel, Terrence Howard, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Dallas Howard and Adam Beach are some previous recipients of the Rising Star Award.

Sponsors for the festival include Wells Fargo, Entertainment Tonight, Regal Entertainment, Integrated Wealth Management, the city of Indian Wells, The Desert Sun, Spencer’s Restaurant, The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Wessman Development.

For more information, visit psfilmfest.org or call (760)-322-2930 or (800)-898-7256.

Be sure to check out our slideshow of the event featuring photos by Jane Emery.

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