Colin Farrell among honourees at US film festival ahead of Oscars

Colin Farrell was the recipient of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, at the 34th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in California alongside fellow Oscar contenders Cate Blanchett and Brendan Fraser.

Farrell, who was honoured for his performance in The Banshees of Inisherin, has also been tipped for an Oscar in the Martin McDonagh movie.

"He's a joy to work with,” the 46-year old actor told Variety, speaking of his co-star Brendan Gleeson. “He comes to it from all the right places, as a man and as an artist…I love him dearly," Farrell continued.

The pair have previously worked together on In Bruges under McDonagh’s direction, with the actor telling Variety that his and Gleeson’s next project could not come “soon enough”, adding that he would also love to work with their director again.

Colin Farrell from The Banshees of Inisherin on the red carpet of the 34th annual Palm Springs International Film Awards sponsored by @ihghotels and @etnow

📷: @gettyimages@Banshees_Movie #PSIFF23 #psiff #palmsprings #filmfestival #colinfarrell #thebansheesofinisherin pic.twitter.com/Z4CJqVkCuX

— Palm Springs Film Festival (@PSFilmFest) January 6, 2023

With the release date of the Oscar nominations impending, award seasons front runners gathered at Thursday’s award show.

Blanchett received the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Actress) for her Oscar-tipped performance in Tár. Brendan Fraser, who is also expected to make the Oscars shortlist, was honoured on Thursday night with the Spotlight Award for his role in The Whale.

Other stars who received accolades at the California festival included Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Austin Butler (Elvis), Viola Davis (The Woman King), Bill Nighy (Living), and Danielle Deadwyler (Till).

The 34th Palm Springs International Film Festival comes just ahead of the Golden Globe Awards, which will be aired on RTÉ2 on Wednesday night.

The eagerly-awaited Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, 24th January.