‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ to receive Vanguard Award from Palm Springs Film Festival
The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the recipient of the Vanguard Award, which is presented to the cast and director Aaron Sorkin. The Vanguard Award is a group honor distinguishing a film’s cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project.
“The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a thrilling court-room drama that chronicles the highlights of the historic trial that sought to punish activists for inciting riots outside of the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Writer and director Aaron Sorkin has created a thought-provoking film featuring outstanding performances from a powerhouse cast that includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong and more,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Academy Award Best Picture winners Green Book and The Shape of Water and Best Picture nominees La La Land and Little Miss Sunshine. The Trial of the Chicago 7 joins this year’s previously announced honorees Riz Ahmed (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Carey Mulligan (International Star Award), Gary Oldman (Chairman’s Award) and Chloé Zhao (Director of the Year Award). The Festival and Film Awards Gala will not take place as an in-person event this year, but honoree selections will be announced to recognize this year’s great performances and Entertainment Tonight will air a tribute to the honorees scheduled on February 11 and February 25. Participating in the interview will be director and writer Aaron Sorkin and cast members.
Image credit: Nico Tavernise/Netflix
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
- Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations: ‘One Battle After Another’ Leads with 12 - December 19, 2025
- Delroy Lindo, Michelle Satter, Sony Pictures Among African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Honorees - December 19, 2025
- Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners: ‘One Battle After Another,’ Park Chan-wook, Josh O’Connor and More - December 19, 2025
Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) Nominations: ‘One Battle After Another’ Leads with 12 
Delroy Lindo, Michelle Satter, Sony Pictures Among African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Honorees 
Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners: ‘One Battle After Another,’ Park Chan-wook, Josh O’Connor and More 
Online Association of Female Film Critics (OAFFC) Winners: ‘Sinners,’ Eva Victor Triumph