Cartier: Presenting Sponsor Of 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

Cartier jewelry and watches will light up the red carpet as the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) takes place on January 6th.  As it did in 2008, when Halle Berry dazzled the audience wearing Cartier jewelry from the Trinity collection, the famous house will serve as presenting sponsor of the elegant event, which recognizes exceptional achievements on the silver screen.  The Palm Springs International Film Festival was founded by Sonny Bono in 1990; since that time, the venue has distinguished itself as among the largest of the North American film festivals, presenting hundreds of films annually from over sixty countries, in addition to special events, receptions and industry seminars.  

Among the honorees at the 20th annual PSIFF Awards Gala include Clint Eastwood, who will be presented with a Career Achievement Award, Ron Howard, who will receive a Director's Lifetime Achievement, and Dustin Hoffman, who is slated to get the Chairman's Award.  The Desert Palm Achievement Award for Acting will be doubly awarded to Sean Penn and Anne Hathaway.  Dakota Fanning will receive the Rising Star Award, Freida Pinto the Breakthrough Performance Award, and Gus Van Sant the Sonny Bono Visionary Award.  Alexandre Desplat will claim the Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing, and Amy Adams will be honored with the Spotlight Award.  The cast of "Revolutionary Road" will get an Ensemble Performance Award, as recognition for their excellence.  Hosting the presentation is Mary Hart of "Entertainment Tonight".  In addition to their awards, each of the honored performers will receive a Cartier Tank Solo watch.    

"Cartier’s history with Hollywood extends to the dawn of film making, and we recognize PSIFF as an institution that enhances the image of the entertainment industry through its annual Awards," said Frederic de Narp, President and CEO of Cartier, North America.  "We’d like to congratulate all of this year’s honorees, who exemplify the best that Hollywood has to offer and its enduring impact on the world."

2009 also marks another significant milestone for Cartier: it is the centennial of the house in the United States.  During this 100-year period, the famous brand founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier has been "the" jeweler for a number of stars, from Golden Age legends such as Marlene Dietrich, Rudolf Valentino, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe to contemporary A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, and Cameron Diaz.  

Expressing his pleasure over Cartier's presence at the ceremony, PSIFF Chairman Harold Matzner stated, "We are thrilled that Cartier is returning to present our Awards Gala.  Given the entertainment royalty that we are honoring this year, including Clint Eastwood, it is only fitting to be partnered with a luxury brand that has served royalty for more than a century-and-a-half."