Biopics Win Big At 2015 Palm Springs Film Festival Awards [Photos]

The 2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards saw accolades going to some very well-deserved movies from the last year - with some even more well-deserved individuals picking them up.

[L-R] Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch and J.K. Simmons at Palm Springs Film Festival Awards (Credit: Michael Buckner at Getty Images Entertainment

Unsurprisingly, the Ensemble Cast Award went to the actors from 'The Imitation Game'; a movie depicting the era-defining career of codebreaker Alan Turing during World War II and his subsequent arrest for being homosexual. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role, with the likes of Allen Leech, Matthew Beard and Alex Lawther - the latter of whom plays Turing's younger self. Directed by the BAFTA nominated Morten Tyldum, the movie has already been nominated for five Golden Globes, and it definitely looks to be in line for an Academy Award.

More: Read our review of 'The Imitation Game'

[L-R] Allen Leech, Alex Lawther, Morten Tyldum and Matthew Beard at Palm Springs Film Festival Awards (Credit: Jason Merritt at Getty Images Entertainment)

Further recognition went to Reese Witherspoon at the event, who won the Chairman's Award for producing and starring in another true story 'Wild', about author Cheryl Strayed's life-changing trek across the Pacific Crest Trail following the loss of her mother. Co-star Laura Dern joined her at the event, and the pair were seen photographed alongside Palm Springs Film Fest's Chairman of the Board Harold Matzner.

[L-R] Reese Witherspoon, Harold Matzner and Laura Dern at Palm Springs Film Festival Awards (Credit: Michael Buckner at Getty Images Entertainment)

Eddie Redmayne was honoured with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his depiction of genius Stephen Hawking in 'The Theory of Everything', while J.K. Simmons truly deserved his Spotlight Award for being the scary music teacher in Damien Chazelle's 'Whiplash'. Usually playing the funnyman, Steve Carell impressed audiences deeply with the more serious role of millionaire wrestling coach John E. du Pont, who was convicted in 1997 of murdering his protege's brother Dave Schultz, and thus landed the Creative Impact in Acting Award.

More: Read our review of 'The Theory of Everything'

Steve Carell and Michael Keaton at Palm Springs Film Festival Awards (Credit: Jason Merritt at Getty Images Entertainment)

After a year of some pretty intense movie releases, Palm Springs Film Fest's Director of the Year Award could've gone to anyone - but it was Alejandro González Iñárritu in the end, who recently helmed the hilarious comedy drama 'Birdman' starring Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Meanwhile, various other famous faces could be seen throughout the event from Brad Pitt to Robert Downey Jr., and Sir Patrick Stewart looked determined to get snaps of everyone on his phone.

Sir Patrick Stewart at Palm Springs Film Festival Awards (Credit: Jason Merritt at Getty Images Entertainment)