Palm Springs, CA– The 27^th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) presented its Ensemble Performance Award to the film The Big Short. The award was honored to the film’s cast, which includes Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt. The cast was represented at the Gala by Steve Carell, Christian Bale, and director Adam McKay. The Awards Gala was hosted by Mary Hart on Saturday, January 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Festival runs January 1-11.

“Wall Street greed and its reverberating effects on the U.S. economy offer a modern backdrop for director Adam McKay’s smart and funny film The Big Short, adapted from the best-selling book by Michael Lewis,” said Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “Taking a complicated subject – the 2008 subprime mortgage bond crisis – McKay and his perfectly cast stars weave an engaging comedic story of a group of oddball money managers who see the train wreck coming and conspire to benefit.  For this wildly entertaining ride and the fine group of actors who propel it along, the Palm Springs International Film Festival presents The Big Shortwith its Ensemble Performance Award.”

Past recipients of the Ensemble Performance Award include Academy Award^® winner for Best Picture Argo as well as past Best Picture nominees American Hustle, Babel, The Imitation Game and The Social Network.

When four outsiders see what the big banks, media and government regulators refuse to – the impending collapse of the global economy – they have an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of the modern banking industry where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and directed by Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers), The Big Short won the National Board of Review Award for Best Ensemble, is nominated for four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for both Steve Carell and Christian Bale, two Screen Actors Guild Awards including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Christian Bale, and seven Critics Choice Awards including Best Picture Best Acting Ensemble and Best Actor in a Comedy for both Christian Bale and Steve Carell. The film is produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Arnon Milchan. 

The Gala also presented awards to previously announced honorees Cate Blanchett, Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Michael Fassbender, Brie Larson, Rooney Mara, Tom McCarthy, Saoirse Ronan and Alicia Vikander.

About The Palm Springs International Film Festival

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 135,000 attendees last year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries.  The Festival is also known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the filmic year by a celebrated list of talents who, in recent years, have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Julianne Moore, Brad Pitt, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Roberts, David O. Russell, Meryl Streep, and Reese Witherspoon.

For more information, visit www.psfilmfest.org.

-Official PSIFF Press Release-

-Edited by Vanessa McMahon-

View trailer for The Big Short here: