Brad Pitt to be honored at Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala

Brad Pitt, who teamed with George Clooney to make Ocean's Eleven the biggest blockbuster movie of their respective careers will join him Jan. 7 in what is shaping up to be the biggest paparazzi magnet in Palm Springs International Film Festival gala history.

Pitt, who turns 48 Sunday, will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Clooney will be honored with the Career Achievement Award.

Other paparazzi favorites being honored include Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams and Glenn Close. With several awards yet to be announced, the gala rivals the 2009 event for star power.

It's certainly up there, said festival chairman Harold Matzner. The last three or four years have just been outstanding.

The value of that, he said, translates into at least $25 million in advertising for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

There's no question that the kind of association with major celebrities, glamour, definitely helps sell Palm Springs to millions of people all over the world, he said. And it brings people throughout the year.

Pitt, who is being recognized for his roles in Moneyball and Tree of Life, attended the 2007 event as part of the cast of Babel, which received the Ensemble Award. Other honorees that year included Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Biel and Adam Beach.

The 2009 gala featured Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Anne Hathaway, Sean Penn, Dustin Hoffman, Amy Adams and Dakota Fanning.

Matzner said the star power is largely the result of the films being released.

There's a lot of product out there, he said. Certainly more than last year.

Pitt and Clooney are competing in the Oscar race for Best Actor. Pitt received a best actor award from the New York Film Critics Circle for his roles in Moneyball and Tree of Life.

Clooney was named best actor for The Descendents by the National Board of Review.

The last four recipients of the Desert Palm Achievement Actor award! Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, Sean Penn and Daniel Day-Lewis have gone on to win the Best Actor Oscar.

The 23rd annual festival runs Jan. 5-16 at venues throughout Palm Springs.