Desert Palm Achievement Award recipient actor Johnny Depp and wife actress Amber Heard pose at the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California, January 2, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

At the starry ceremony, Cate Blanchett and Johnny Depp received the Desert Palm Achievement Award for actress and actor respectively for their respective performance in Carol, a romantic drama film, and crime drama Black Mass.

Matt Damon was awarded the Chairman's Award for his role in science fiction blockbuster The Martian.

As to the other awards, the Rising Star Award went to Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), the Sonny Bono Visionary Award went to Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), and the Breakthrough Performance Award went to Brie Larson (Room).

The Spotlight Award for actress went to Rooney Mara (Carol), and for actor, Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), while the International Star Award for actor went to Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), and for actress, Saoirse Roman (Brooklyn).