Over the years — having sat at my computer for many an award show, covering the news as it has unfolded — I’ve developed a curiosity to know what it’s actually like to attend one. Our readers are interested, too: we’ve answered all your questions about what the stars are eating during shows, what’s in the gift bags, and more.
Now that award season is in full swing, I’m excited to report that I have some insight for all of you. On Jan. 3, I got the opportunity to attend the Palm Springs International Film Awards, a night that honors this year’s standout films. It’s seen as a kickoff to award season, and I attended the show and after party as a guest, brushing elbows with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Adam Sandler.
Yes, I’m still pinching myself, but before we get to that, a little context. I was in Palm Springs thanks to a trip sponsored by Visit Palm Springs, the city’s tourism organization. Palm Springs sits in the Coachella Valley, its beautiful desert landscape hugged by the spectacular San Jacinto Mountains. It’s known for many things: world-class midcentury modern architecture, its queer-friendly social scene, its proximity to national parks like Joshua Tree.
And, seeing as it’s a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, it’s been a haven for Hollywood stars since the 1920s. You can tour Frank Sinatra’s old home, and today’s celebs still flock there for relaxing (and sometimes rowdy) getaways. In other words, it’s the perfect backdrop to a major gala dinner like the one the Palm Springs International Film Festival puts on.
What It Was Like to Attend an Award Gala
I’d been to Palm Springs a few times prior for bachelorettes and birthday parties, our trips a combination of hiking, relaxing by the pool, and spending balmy nights doing karaoke in downtown Palm Springs. This time, however, was a little different, seeing as we were given the A-list treatment. We were put up in the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel, a massive property right in the heart of Palm Springs with views of those beautiful mountains. It’s also just a block away from the Palm Springs Convention Center, which is where the gala has been held for more than 30 years.
On the day of the Film Awards, we kicked off our morning at Parker Palm Springs, a sprawling luxury hotel with 13 acres of exclusive property — a labyrinth of tucked-away pools, lemonade snack shacks, an intimate amphitheater, and more. It’s a hot spot for high-profile guests, and you could feel it in the quiet, secluded grounds. We got massages at its nautical-themed spa, then had a lovely outdoor lunch on the racquet lawn. Those few hours, I’m sure, are exactly what the actual stars need to calm their nerves and get them into the right headspace for the flashing bulbs and stresses of an award show.
Indeed, before we knew it, it was time to stop relaxing and time to start prepping. Celebrities will spend hours getting glam ahead of award shows — their impeccable hair and makeup and nails and skin don’t just materialize out of thin air. I opted to get my hair blown out at a nearby hair salon, but celebrities usually have a whole team of hair stylists, makeup and nail artists, and wardrobe stylists getting them glammed up. I did snag a couple products from our list of red carpet beauty products that are loved by celebrities, and did my own makeup at the hotel.
Around 4 p.m., it was time to meet up with our group to toast ahead of the awards, and everyone was dressed to the nines. It was a 60-degree evening in Palm Springs, and the sun was peeking behind the (rare) clouds. We weaved our way through an entrance for non-celebrities, which was next to the flashing lights of the star-studded red carpet, and voilá, we were inside the Convention Center. It was decked out in hundreds of beautifully adorned dinner tables and a massive, sparkling stage; there was even an ice luge at one of the walk-up bars.
The stars waltzed into the convention center right before the ceremony’s start at 6 p.m., shuffling past crowds of adoring attendees. I hung out at the end of the tunnel, where some stars were peeling off to find their seats. And it was there that Cyrus did, in fact, brush past me as she entered the reception area, looking extra cool in sunglasses and a plunging tux. She was at the gala to accept her Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for “Dream as One,” her song in “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
I didn’t have much time to fangirl, as it was time to take our seats. Most of the celebrities were seated in the center line of tables, the dazzling stars spread out among the 2,500 other guests (and, yes, they got shy glances from surrounding fans). Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner canoodled at one table, just 24 hours before he famously went acceptance-speech official with her at the Critics Choice Awards. Our table was only about 50 feet from Adam Sandler’s, where he and Laura Dern were cracking each other up. As the show started, we were treated to a three-course meal: a pumpkin-spiced pear salad to start, short ribs and mashed potatoes as a main, and a choice between poached pear and chocolate mousse for dessert, plus free-flowing drinks. Our tables were adorned with little glass buddhas, a keepsake guests are encouraged to take — if they can fit them in their fancy clutches.
This award show is always special, too, because all the celebrities who win are notified beforehand — and are presented with their awards by another star. For example, Colman Domingo introduced Michael B. Jordan for his Icon Award win; Jane Fonda introduced Chloé Zhao, Paul Mescal, and Jessie Buckley, who were being honored for their work on “Hamnet.” It felt like a friendly, intimate warm-up to all the competition to come, a chance to really celebrate before the rush of award season turned all the way up.
After three hours of dramatic, poignant, and funny acceptance speeches, it was time for the after party, which was held back at Parker Palm Springs, where we were earlier that day — though it felt like so much had happened since. Standing in line to get into the after party, Sandler and his wife and daughters were actually leaving the property, scooting past us with their roller suitcases. “Have fun, you guys,” Sandler shouted over his shoulder.
The after party was reminiscent of a huge, boisterous, black-tie wedding: there was a dancing tent and multiple bar areas, with attendees milling about and grazing on a massive charcuterie display. Unfortunately, I didn’t spot any celebrities in the crowd of hundreds, but I’m sure they were having a good time. Or maybe they were already back on the road to Los Angeles, saving up their energy for the rest of award season. They were just getting started, after all.
Well past midnight, I crawled back into my hotel room, my feet sore from four-inch heels. It was a night I won’t forget, but I also wondered: how the heck do celebrities do this, over and over again, from January to March? I had newfound respect for their stamina and grace, and a newfound appreciation for watching award shows from my couch.
Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.
