PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Organizers of the Palm Springs International Film Festival announced Wednesday that the French musical "Emilia Pérez" will receive the Vanguard Award at the festival's awards presentation next year.

The award will be given to director Jacques Audiard and actors Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez — all of whom are expected to attend — at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 3.

Premiering in May at the Cannes Film Festival, "Emilia Pérez" earned the Jury Prize, and its four main actresses shared the Best Actress honor. The Netflix-distributed musical also placed as runner-up for the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Audiard was given the Silver Medallion at this year's Telluride Film Festival.

"Emilia Pérez is one of the greatest achievements in cinema this year," said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi in a statement. "This powerful film from visionary director Jacques Audiard, is led by outstanding performances from Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Edgar Ramírez ... It's our honor to celebrate the director and cast of Emilia Perez with the Vanguard Award for this achievement in filmmaking."

The film's official synopsis describes an "audacious fever dream" centered on "four women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness." Gascón stars as the titular figure, the head of a cartel who recruits unappreciated lawyer Rita (Saldaña) "to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self."

Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Green Book," "The Shape of Water," "Belfast," "La La Land," "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Fablemans" and "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

After the ceremony on the festival's second day, the film festival will continue through Jan. 13.