Palm Springs, CA (November 7, 2025) – The Palm Springs International Film Awards has announced that Adam Sandler is the recipient of the Chairman’s Award for his performance in Netflix’s Jay Kelly. The Film Awards will take place on January 3, 2026, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running January 2-11, 2026. The event will be presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.
“Adam Sandler delivers a deeply moving and career-best performance in Jay Kelly,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “It is a performance which underscores his standing as one of the most versatile and respected actors of his generation. We are proud to honor Adam—a singular talent whose work continues to surprise and inspire—with this year’s Chairman’s Award.”
From Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach, Netflix’s Jay Kelly follows famous movie actor
Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler). Poignant and humor filled, epic and intimate, Jay Kelly is pitched at the intersection of life’s regrets and notable glories.
Comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician, Adam Sandler is one of the most influential entertainers of his generation. Recipient of the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Sandler has earned three Grammy nominations, seven Primetime Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Sandler won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for Uncut Gems, and his performance in Hustle earned him a Critics Choice Award nomination and Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination. Most recently, Sandler was also nominated for two Emmys for his Adam Sandler: Love You variety special and Outstanding Music and Lyrics for his song in SNL50. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his variety special in 2024. Over the past few years, Sandler has continued to prove that his strengths as a comedy legend are equal to his dramatic acting skills. This past summer, after reprising his beloved character in the long-awaited sequel Happy Gilmore 2, he landed Netflix its biggest opening weekend ever. From Sandler’s breakout on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s to a run of box-office classics including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer and Big Daddy, Sandler became a defining comedic voice of his generation — and a lasting voice for all generations. He went on to earn critical acclaim for transformative performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me and The Meyerowitz Stories, showcasing the emotional depth behind his trademark humor. As a writer, producer and performer, Sandler has built a creative empire through Happy Madison Productions, entertaining audiences worldwide for more than three decades. His films have generated billions at the box office and continue to resonate across generations.
Sandler joins previously announced honorees, the cast of Sentimental Value (Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning) who will receive the International Star Award. Past recipients of the Chairman’s Award include last year’s recipient, Timothée Chalamet, who went on to receive the Academy Award nomination for Best Actor along with previous honorees Amy Adams, George Clooney, Viola Davis, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Regina King, Gary Oldman, and Reese Witherspoon.
About the Palm Springs International Film Society
The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) and Film Awards every January and Palm Springs ShortFest in June. In addition to curating the best in international cinema, PSIFF’s Film Awards has come to be known as the first stop on the campaign trail for the Academy Awards®, and our Oscar®-qualifying ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America. Our festivals, year-round member screenings and educational programs manifest our organization’s mission by nurturing and encouraging new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema, and expanding audience horizons. The City of Palm Springs is the title sponsor of both festivals. The Film Awards are presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.
About Kering
Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy.
Kering’s commitment to women is at the heart of the Group’s priorities and, through Women In Motion, extends to the arts and culture, where gender inequalities persist, even though creation is one of the most powerful vectors for change. A pioneering program, Women In Motion highlights the talent and diversity of the voices shaping the artistic world, providing a space for dialogue and action, in order to continue promoting the recognition and influence of women in creation.
