PALM SPRINGS, the United States, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 29th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) hosted its star-studded film awards gala at the Convention Center here on Tuesday.

Film fans lined the streets to cheer the arriving stars for hours.

Over two dozen contenders for Academy Awards nominations, including dazzling stars, directors and up-and-coming actors either received or presented awards at the gala.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot received the Rising Star Award for her role in "Wonder Woman" and American Allison Janney was awarded the Spotlight Award for her role in "I, Tonya." Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan was awarded the Desert Palm Achievement Award for her role in "Lady Bird" and American Mary J. Blige was awarded the Breakthrough Performance Award for her role in "Mudbound."

American actress and producer Holly Hunter was honored with the Career Achievement Award for her strong performance in a variety of roles over the years, including in "The Big Sick" and "The Piano," and another American actress, Jessica Chastain, received a Chairman's Award for her role in "Molly's Game."

The PSIFF is one of the largest film events in North America, with attendance exceeding 130,000 each year, said Harold Matzner, chairman of the festival.

"PSIFF is very well supported," said Ellis Goodman, a long-time patron of the festival. "Many people come from other parts of the country to attend it every year."

The festival this year features 180 films from 77 countries, including "Youth" by Feng Xiaogang from China.

"'Youth' is an incredible film," Michael Lerman, artistic director of the festival, told Xinhua. "It reminds me of 'Gone with the Wind.' It is a melodrama in its best sense."

The film festival will run through Jan. 15.