Bryce Dallas Howard willreceive the Rising Star Award at the 16th Annual Palm Springs InternationalFilm Festival (PSIFF) awards gala in Palm Springs on Jan 8 2005.

Howard is the first honoureeto be named and receives her award in recognition of her standout feature debutperformance in M Night Shyamalan's mystery The Village.

She recently wrappedproduction on Lars von Trier's slavery drama Manderlay, which also stars Lauren Bacall, Chloe Sevigny,Danny Glover and Jeremy Davies.

After leaving the TischSchool of the Arts programme at New York University, Howard appeared in NewYork stage productions of Tartuffe, As You Like It, and House/Garden, among others.

Last year's PSIFF galahonourees included Kevin Costner, newcomer Scarlett Johansson, Naomi Watts andJim Sheridan.