The Palm Springs International Film Festival will honor Natalie Portman with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for Acting for her turn in “Black Swan”. Colin Firth will also take home the award for “The King’s Speech”.

“We are honoring two of the finest actors to grace the screen, both of whom deliver Oscar-quality performances in their most recent films,” said Palm Springs International Film Festival chairman Harold Matzner. “Colin Firth brings a regal versatility to each of his roles, but his portrayal of King George VI in his latest film, The King’s Speech, is extraordinary. Natalie Portman, who started dancing at age four and acting at age 11, tests the full range of her significant talent with a powerhouse performance as the obsessed ballerina in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan.”

Portman isn’t the only young up and comer honored at this year’s awards ceremony on January 8, 2011. Jennifer Lawrence will take the Rising Star Award for “Winter’s Bone” and Carey Mulligan will take the Breakthrough Performance Award for “Never Let Me Go”.