CMFH Massive Missives

I was lucky enough to cover the Palm Springs International Film Fest's launch party in Beverly Hills, filled to the brim with folks in the biz and fest organizers in the know.

It was fun to duck under low doorways, thinking that 5'5" Charlie Chaplin probably didn’t bother in the house he built for his 16-year-old bride. Clark Gable married Carole Lombard under a beautiful, sprawling old pepper tree in the backyard and host Stephen Breimer joked that though the pool is rather small, Chaplin had no trouble doing laps.

It seemed the perfect setting. Hollywood history bridged by folks who know the town and its stories, ushering in the next generation: Emile Hirsch, Nikki Blonsky and Marion Cotillard.

Hirsch was reserved and soft-spoken as cameras clamored for a shot of his disarming grin, but it was easy to perceive when a topic excited him (working with Sean Penn, the devotion of his Into the Wild character to his search for truth and his dedication to the portrayal, in particular). I'm glad to see that though he is an excellent actor, it has not gone to his head. I have high hopes that he'll stay under the radar just enough to maintain a great career.

Read the A1 story. The following extended story was cut to fit on the front page:

The Palm Springs International Film Festival announced the 2008 Rising Star Awards at a launch party in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

Emile Hirsch, star of Into the Wild, was named a Rising Star award recipient by "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart, who will emcee the festival's Awards Gala for the fifth consecutive year.

Festival Chairman Earl Greenburg also named a second honoree, Nikki Blonsky, who made her acting debut in this year's Hairspray. Blonsky was not present for Thursday's announcement.

"Hirsch's performance in (Into the Wild) is compelling," Greenburg said about the festival's choice of the 22-year-old actor. "He’s a relatively unknown young star, but you cannot ignore his performance."

Hirsch credited his success in Into the Wild to its director, actor Sean Penn, whose expertise helped immensely. "I felt the need to learn more about the person and his search for truth," Hirsch said of his character who withdraws from society and immerses himself in nature.

Entertainment lawyer and film festival Board Member Stephen Breimer hosted the event at actress Patricia Barry's home, formerly the estate of Charlie Chaplin.

In a house infused with cinematic history, the party spilled into the courtyard in sight of the pepper tree where Clark Gable married Carole Lombard, according to Dale Olson, a Hollywood agent who attended Thursday's event and knows the home's history. Under the lit tree, celebrity representatives mingled with festival organizers.

"I wanted to raise attention of the festival to people in Hollywood," Breimer said. "I wanted to get them excited about it and meet the festival director, director of programming and the board in order to let them know what we're doing."

Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden, who attended Thursday's event, said there is a need to revive Palm Springs as a "young, hip town." "The film festival is perfect in that capacity," he said.

"Variety" Editor-in-Chief Peter Bart said that while the festival may not have the heft of Sundance or Toronto, it attracts celebrities seeking attention just before the Oscars.

The Awards Gala takes place Jan. 5. There, Hirsch and Blonsky will officially receive their awards and Marion Cotillard will be given the Breakthrough Performance Award for La Vie en Rose.

Set to feature over more than 230 films from 65 countries, the festival, according to "Variety," was recently labeled as one of "50 unmissable film festivals" worldwide.