'Room's' Brie Larson to receive Breakthrough Award at Palm Springs Film Fest
The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) announced today (in a press release sent to festival press) that it will present actress Brie Larson with the Breakthrough Performance Award for her work in the new film "Room." The award will be bestowed upon Larson at the yearly Awards Gala that will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2016, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, in Palm Springs, California. The honor is the fourth to be announced for this year's festival. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, actress Saoirse Ronan and Johnny Depp will also be honored. The Awards Gala will be hosted by TV personality Mary Hart. The Palm Springs International Film Festival will run from January 1-11.
“Brie Larson breathes vibrant life into the character of Ma from Emma Donoghue’s best-selling novel 'Room'. Larson delivers a performance of great warmth, deep reserves of courage and strong empathy as a committed parent determined to make sure her son is taken care of under unimaginable circumstances,” said Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “For this stand-out performance, it is an honor to present her with the 2016 Breakthrough Performance Award.”
Past recipients of the Breakthrough Performance Award include Marion Cotillard, Felicity Huffman, Jennifer Hudson, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Jeremy Renner and Rosamund Pike. In the years they were honored, Cotillard, Nyong’o and Hudson went on to win Oscars, while Huffman, Pike and Renner received Academy Award nominations.
"Room," was a favorite at the Toronto International Film Festival, garnering the audience award and Larson's performance started receiving Oscar buzz the moment the movie ended. "Room," is based on the bestselling novel by Emma Donoghue and is directed by Lenny Abrahamson. The film tells a story that is both deeply emotional and highly suspenseful. It explores the endless love between mother and child. The film also stars Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy and Joan Allen.
Brie Larson came to the forefront of career after her performance in 2013's "Short Term 12." The performance garnered her a Best Actor win at the Gotham Awards and a nomination for Best Female Lead at the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards. Her other films include: "The Gambler," "Trainwreck," "The Spectacular Now," "21 Jump Street," "Don Jon," "Rampart," "Greenberg," and "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World," She has just finished filming "Basmati Blues," "Free Fire," and "Wiener-Dog." Larson is currently filming "Kong: Skull Island," and it has just been announced that Larson will star in "The Glass Castle," starring alongside Woody Harrelson.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival welcomes over 135,000 attendees and is one of the largest film festivals in North America. The festival includes a spiffy Black Tie Gala that ushers in the award season with "A" list talent taking home the prizes, many of which will be winning Oscars at the end of award season. The Palm Springs International Film Festival was created by former mayor Sonny Bono in hopes that Palm Springs would always be synonymous with the film industry in Hollywood.
For more information, call 760-322-2930 or 800-898-7256 or visit www.psfilmfest.org.