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Palm Springs Film Festival Honors 'The Invite' With Vanguard Award
Confirmed
In Short: The Palm Springs International Film Festival has announced that 'The Invite,' directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, will receive the Vanguard Award at the festival's opening gala.
The Vanguard Award is given to a film's cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project. This year's award will be presented to Wilde, along with co-stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton.
The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, has become an indie summer hit, grossing $61.2 million both domestically and overseas.
Festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi praised the film, saying, 'With The Invite, Olivia Wilde has made a film that is both comedic and deeply human. In addition to directing, she stars alongside three of the most compelling actors working today: Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton.'
The Vanguard Award has a history of recognizing films that go on to earn Oscar nominations. Last year, the award went to Chloé Zhao’s 'Hamnet,' which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
The film's script, written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, is an adaptation of the 2020 Spanish film 'The People Upstairs.' It tells the story of a dysfunctional married couple who invite their neighbors over for dinner, leading to a bitingly funny and dramatic evening.
The cast of 'The Invite' has been praised for their performances, with Penélope Cruz earning a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performance at the Gotham Awards.
The film has also received four Gotham Award nominations, including Best Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, and the Gotham Audience Award.
Background
The Invite is a 2026 American sex comedy drama film directed by Olivia Wilde from a screenplay by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. It is an English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs (Sentimental) by Cesc Gay.
What's confirmed
- “With The Invite, Olivia Wilde has made a film that is both comedic and deeply human. In addition to directing, she stars alongside three of the most compelling actors working today: Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton,” said festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi.
- Olivia Wilde ‘s The Invite will receive the Palm Springs International Film Festival ‘s Vanguard Award, the Palm Springs International Film Awards announced on Wednesday.
- Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include best picture Oscar winners Green Book and The Shape of Water, as well as best picture nominees Belfast, Emilia Pérez, Hamnet, Killers of the Flower Moon, La La Land, Little Miss Sunshine, The Fablemans and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.