Leonardo DiCaprio, accepting an award via video at the Palm Springs Film Festival, stressed the importance of cinema over content, advocating for shared, communal movie experiences. He noted that original films are increasingly difficult to produce and protect. The festival, kicking off awards season, honored various film industry contenders, with speakers like Michael B. Jordan also emphasizing original storytelling and unity among artists. DiCaprio's inability to attend was attributed to travel disruptions caused by political conflict.