Movie stars awarded at Palm Springs film festival

Desert Palm Achievement Award recipient actress Cate Blanchett poses at the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California, January 2, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) rolled out the red carpet on Saturday for movies stars and filmmakers with great fanfare at the Convention Center here in California.

The red carpet fanfare, usually the most glamorous part of the annual film event, lasted over an hour, with hundreds of movie fans lining up to cheer for the arrival of their favorite stars before the black-tie gala that saw a dozen of actors and actresses get awarded.

The awards gala is "the first stop on the campaign trail for the major Academy Award contenders," said Harold Matzner, chairman of the PSIFF.