Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of Focus Features’ horror blockbuster Obsession, will receive the Rising Star Award at the 2027 Palm Springs International Film Awards. The announcement was made on Monday, November 2, 2026, confirming Navarrette as the latest honoree for the prestigious desert awards gala.
The 25-year-old actress has become one of the most talked-about names in Hollywood this year, thanks to her gripping performance as Nikki Freeman in writer-director Curry Barker‘s indie horror sensation. The film, made on a reported budget of just $750,000, has grossed over $500 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing original film of the 2020s and the largest release ever for Focus Features.
A Career-Defining Performance in Obsession
Obsession tells the story of Bear (played by Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic who breaks a mysterious “One Wish Willow” to make his crush, Nikki, fall in love with him. The wish works, but Bear soon discovers that getting exactly what he wanted comes at a dark and sinister price.
Critics have consistently singled out Navarrette’s performance as one of the film’s standout achievements. The movie holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and recently earned a Gotham Audience Award nomination. The film also stars Megan Lawless, Cooper Tomlinson, and Andy Richter.
Navarrette has spoken about the intense preparation behind her unsettling portrayal. At a recent Los Angeles press conference, she explained that spontaneity was key to bringing Nikki to life. “I think there’s a really big importance in scaring yourself,” Navarrette said. “So I didn’t prepare a lot of the cutting back and forth between wish Nikki and real Nikki too much because I wanted that to seem as though I was shocking myself”.
Director Curry Barker also revealed that Navarrette filmed one of the film’s most disturbing scenes—a breakdown in a bedroom corner—in a single take without needing further direction. “She literally did it in one take, which is the case for a lot of her stuff in this movie,” Barker shared.
Festival Chairman Praises Navarrette’s Rare Talent
Nachhattar Singh Chandi, Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, praised Navarrette in a statement announcing the award.
“Inde Navarrette delivers a performance in ‘Obsession’ that is impossible to look away from. She brings a rare combination of emotional awareness and cinematic presence to the screen. The Rising Star Award exists to celebrate exactly this kind of breakthrough talent, and we could not be more excited to welcome Inde to Palm Springs.”
A Rising Star With a Fast-Growing Resume
Before Obsession, Navarrette was best known for her television work. She first broke out in the fourth and final season of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and went on to a series regular role as Sarah Cushing on The CW’s Superman & Lois. She made her Sundance debut in 2020 opposite Sienna Miller and Diego Luna in Wander Darkly.
Navarrette, who was born Danielle Fabiola Navarrette on March 3, 2001, in Tucson, Arizona, got her nickname “Inde” from her mother because of her independent nature as a child. She is proudly bisexual and has been open about her identity in past interviews.
Her upcoming slate is already stacked with major projects. She is set to play the iconic role of Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film, joining a cast that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and Adam Driver as the villain Mister Sinister. She will also star in and executive produce The Waffle House Index, a sci-fi thriller from Apple Original Films and Plan B Entertainment.
Navarrette hosted Saturday Night Live‘s Halloween episode on October 31, 2026, with Gracie Abrams as the musical guest.
The Palm Springs Award and Its Oscar Track Record
The Rising Star Award has a strong history as an Oscar bellwether. Past recipients include Ariana Grande for Wicked, Timothée Chalamet for Call Me by Your Name, Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl, Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone, Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air, and Scarlett Johansson for Lost in Translation. Several of these actresses went on to receive Academy Award nominations for the very performances honored in Palm Springs, with Vikander winning the supporting actress statuette.
Navarrette currently ranks at No. 3 for Best Actress on the Gold Derby prediction charts, behind Julianne Moore (The Debut) and Olivia Wilde (The Invite), with an 84.0% probability of a nomination.
Other Honorees at the 2027 Palm Springs Film Awards
Navarrette joins a growing list of talent being recognized at the 2027 ceremony. Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton will collectively receive the Vanguard Award for their work on A24’s The Invite.
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When and Where to Watch the Palm Springs Film Awards
The 2027 Palm Springs International Film Awards will take place on Thursday, January 7, 2027, at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California. The accompanying Palm Springs International Film Festival will run from January 7 to January 18, 2027. The event will be presented by Kering and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight and Soho House, with Cadillac as the official vehicle.
For audiences outside the desert, Obsession remains available to stream. The uncut original version of the film is streaming on The Peacock Hub on JioHotstar in India in both English and Hindi. Netflix has also announced that Obsesión, the Spanish-titled version, will be available for audiences in the United States starting November 17, 2026.
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