Miley Cyrus reflects on competition during Palm Springs Film Awards speech

Miley Cyrus used award appearance to discuss competition in awards season and value of creative community

Miley Cyrus was honoured at the Palm Springs Film Awards on Saturday for her song “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash, using her acceptance speech to reflect on the structure and pressures of awards season in Hollywood.

Speaking at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Cyrus acknowledged the orchestra that performed her song, telling them, “You guys did amazing — if you’re available for the Oscars, that’s what we’re hoping for.”

She also made light-hearted remarks about the evening, calling it “truly the most elegant Palm Springs party that I have ever been to,” before adding a joke about stopping by Toucans on her way back to Los Angeles.

Cyrus noted that the Palm Springs ceremony stood out because the honourees were announced in advance, removing what she described as the stress of competition.

“So often during awards season, we’re set up as competitors, but we’re meant to be a community, not opponents. There is no single best, it’s only our personal best work,” she said. She added that numerical comparisons can make the season feel like a sport, while artistic performance extends beyond rankings or scoreboards.

Continuing her remarks, Cyrus reflected on performance and identity, stating, “Whether you’re in or out of this industry, we all have a persona, even the ones that are rooted in authenticity, because self-creation is an art form, and all of us, we perform genuinely.” She said this was something she admired in actors, actresses and drag performers alike.

Cyrus also thanked the filmmakers behind Avatar, describing director James Cameron as a friend and acknowledging the years of work that went into the project.

She noted that while the team had worked on the film for more than a decade, she joined later and was grateful for the recognition extended to her contribution.