Benedict Cumberbatch, Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore Attend Palm Springs Film Festival
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Apart from the three stars, Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt, Eddie Redmayne, Rosamund Pike and Michael Keaton are among actors who are in attendance at the annual event.

AceShowbiz - This year's awards season kicked off with the Palm Springs Film Festival over the weekend. On Saturday, January 3, numerous Oscar hopefuls attended the gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center. "The Imitation Game" cast members including Benedict Cumberbatch, Allen Leech, Alex Lawther and Matthew Beard were present alongside director Morten Tyldum. Other stars such as Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt, Eddie Redmayne, Rosamund Pike, Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon and David Oyelowo were also in attendance.

Pike was honored with a Breakthrough Performance by an Actress award for her performance in "Gone Girl" that night and was introduced by her co-stars Carrie Coon and Kim Dickens. Pitt, meanwhile, showed up onstage to introduce Oyelowo who won a Breakthrough Performance by an Actor award for his role as Martin Luther King Jr. in "Selma".

Angelina Jolie's husband additionally led audience to a sing-along on how to pronounce the actor's name. "How the hell do you pronounce his name? It's OK. It's all right. I've been there. I'm here to help," he joked. In response to the chant, Oyelowo said in his speech, "You know you have really broken through when Brad Pitt sings your name!"

According to L.A. Times, the event continued with J.K. Simmons receiving the Spotlight Award for "Whiplash". Next, Robert Downey Jr. presented the Icon Award to Robert Duvall who is also his co-star in "The Judge". "Robert Duvall can do anything and he's far from done," the Iron Man depicter said, before adding, "This is generally where people stand up," prompting audience to give a standing ovation.

Next, Steve Carell appeared onstage and presented the Desert Palm Achievement Award to Moore who showed impressive performance in Alzheimer's drama "Still Alice". "Boyhood" director Richard Linklater was honored with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, presented by Shirley MacLaine.

Later, Moore took the stage again to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award to the newly-married Redmayne for his performance as Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything". The British star, who exchanged vows with Hannah Bagshawe on December 15, thanked "my life partner and, as of two weeks ago, my wife. It's kind of weird saying that - but it's a good weird."

Keaton was also one of the presenters that night, introducing "Birdman" helmer Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu who received Director Award. Director Morten Tyldum then presented his "Imitation Game" cast with Ensemble Award. Cumberbatch, who brought his fiancee Sophie Hunter to the event, spoke on behalf of the cast and joked that "Keira Knightley thought this takes place in Palm Beach" before delivering his speech about playing war hero and gay icon Alan Turing.

The event concluded with Witherspoon receiving the Chairman's Award for her role in "Wild", presented by her co-star Laura Dern. "I want to be part of any party Reese Witherspoon is throwing," Dern quipped.

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