The Circuit

On the heels of giving its Rising Star award to “Into the Wild” lead Emile Hirsch, the Palm Springs International Film Festival said it will honor the film’s helmer Sean Penn as Director of the Year at its annual Awards Gala. The fest previously announced honors for “La Vie En Rose” actress Marion Cotillard and “Hairspray” lead Nikki Blonsky.  Mary Hart will host the black-tie event on January 5.

Past director honorees include Alejandro González Iñárritu for “Babel,” Anthony Minghella for “Cold Mountain,” Alexander Payne for “Sideways” and Ang Lee for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

“Into the Wild” premiered at Telluride, opened September 21, and is continuing an international festival tour that’s included stops at Toronto, London, and recently Rome.


Pictured: Penn and Hirsch at the Variety Screening Series of "Into the Wild." Photo by Jean Baptiste/Variety via Wireimage.