‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ to Receive Vanguard Award at Palm Springs International Film Awards

The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Killers of the Flower Moon is the recipient of the Vanguard Award. 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 award will be presented to Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, Academy Award winner and Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio and Gotham Award nominee Lily Gladstone, all of whom will be in attendance. The Film Awards will take place on January 4, 2024, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running through January 15, 2024.

“Killers of the Flower Moon is a powerful and important film not only for its cinematic poetry, but also as a complicated story about the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, one which fully illustrates the evils of racism and corruption. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film features a powerhouse ensemble performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons and Tantoo Cardinal making it the must-see film of the year,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “It is our honor to present the Vanguard Award to Killers of the Flower Moon.”

From Apple Original Films, Killers of the Flower Moon tracks the suspicious murders of members of the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight after oil was discovered underneath their land. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), Killers of the Flower Moon  Killers of the Flower Moon also stars Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons, and is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book. The film is produced by Dan Friedkin p.g.a, Bradley Thomas p.g.a, Martin Scorsese p.g.a. and Daniel Lupi p.g.a. The film features an original score from the late Robbie Robertson. 

Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Academy Award Best Picture winners Green Book and The Shape of Water as well as Best Picture nominees Belfast, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine, The Fablemans and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. Their Oscar-qualifying ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America.

The event will be sponsored by Entertainment Tonight and IHG Hotels & Resorts.