Heads up, cinephiles: Saturday marked the start of the Palm Springs Film festival and with it, an entire seasons of festivals, award shows and other industry-related goodness. The first event of the season was attended by the likes of Brad Pitt and Robert Downey Jr., both of whom presented awards, but did not receive any. Strange, we know. Although they did add a lot of humour to the stuffy event, according to Variety’s report.

David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo was this year's Breakthrough Actor.

 

This year the buzz was centred around stars like Benedict Cumberbatch, Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Michael Keaton and Shirley MacLaine. The ceremony, which celebrates excellence in film and more or less sets the tone for the Oscars every year, was hosted by Mary Hart.

More: Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike: "Separation Is Key To a Relationship"

 

Oh, and can we just talk about Rosamund Pike winning the Breakthrough Actress award? Pike was presented with the statuette by Gone Girl co-stars Kim Dickens and Carrie Coon, marking her as a likely Academy award nominee. The Academy has historically been very favourable towards breakthrough talent, so we’ll be rooting for Pike during this year’s ceremony.

 

Then of course, there was Brad Pitt’s sing-along, where he tried to teach the audience how to pronounce Selma star David Oyelowo’s name. Afterwards, the Selma star and Breakthrough Actor award recipient said, “You know you have broken through when Brad Pitt sings your name.” Oyelowo talked about the mob scene that ensues when his four children get together with Pitt’s six, and thanked Pitt along with Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay for getting the film made.