The Hollywood Film Festival Gets A Surprise Guest

Angelina Jolie, that sneaky mama, somehow managed to elude detection and clandestinely make her way here to LA to make a surprise appearance at the 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala, which was held at the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel last night, especially to pay tribute and honor her Changeling director Clint Eastwood. There were a lot of other sexy beyotches at last night’s affair but Angelina deffo stole the show. Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals and gala itself:

She may be the most photographed woman in the world. But even Angelina Jolie can fly under the radar. The actress – who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan – made a surprise appearance at Monday night’s Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala, where she payed tribute to director Clint Eastwood. In fact, Jolie’s appearance was so unexpected, the A-list crowd gasped audibly when she was introduced. The mother-of-six took time out of her busy schedule to present Eastwood – who helmed her most recent move, The Changeling – with the director of the year award. “There are some people in this business that are icons, and we often wonder if, when we meet them, they’ll live up to what we imagine them to be,” she told the audience. “And Clint Eastwood in person is even better. Clint is what every great director should be,” she continued. “He is a great leader. And I certainly would follow him anywhere.” … As he accepted the honor, Eastwood noted, “Working with someone like Angelina Jolie is a great privilege, because you get to look on that gorgeous beauty every day. And she’s a great talent.” The two walked arm-in-arm from the stage. Then Jolie, wearing a floor-sweeping black gown and minimal makeup, slipped out of the event as stealthily as she’d arrived.

It’s unclear if Angelina flew to the States unaccompanied by any of her family members (who were last seen in Germany where daddy Brad Pitt is bizzy working on a new Tarantino film) but my guess is that she’s prolly already back with her family by now. Clint Eastwood wasn’t the only actor who was honored at last night’s gala event … Dustin Hoffman was presented with the Hollywood Career Achievement Award, Josh Brolin was presented with the Hollywood Actor of the Year Award and Kristin Scott Thomas took home the Hollywood Actress of the Year Award. I believe that Ryan Gosling was on hand to present Hoffman with his trophy but I, personally, would be much more excited about having Mr. Gosling doing the presenting rather than the award itself. Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson … the Hollywood Film Festival Gala brought out all the hotties. Sounds like it was a fun event.

[Photo credit: Wireimage, Bauer-Griffin; Source]