The Savannah College of Art and Design has picked Julianne Moore to receive the Icon Award at its upcoming film festival, and it has set her new film “The Dead Donkey” as the centerpiece selection. The announcement arrives alongside news that Oscar winner Helen Mirren will open the festival and be honored herself.
Moore’s award comes after a busy year. She won the Academy Award for best actress for “Still Alice,” which also earned her a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. She has four additional Academy Award nominations for “Boogie Nights,” “The End of the Affair,” “Far from Heaven” and “The Hours.” She also won an Emmy for playing Sarah Palin in the 2012 TV movie “Game Change.” She is the first American woman to win top acting honors at Venice, Berlin and Cannes, for “Far from Heaven,” “The Hours” and “Maps to the Stars,” respectively.
Moore’s Career At A Glance
| Prize | Work | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Award | “Still Alice” | Won |
| Golden Globe | “Still Alice” | Won |
| BAFTA | “Still Alice” | Won |
| Emmy | “Game Change” | Won |
| Venice | “Far from Heaven” | Won |
| Berlin | “The Hours” | Won |
| Cannes | “Maps to the Stars” | Won |
The Film That Made The Cut
“The Dead Donkey” is a musical comedy from A24, written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Moore plays Mona, a woman pulled into the orbit of an imperious director played by Paul Giamatti. Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters round out the cast. The project reunites Moore with Eisenberg after his 2022 directorial debut, “When You Finish Saving the World.”
The film held its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, where it received a rapturous reception. It followed with its Canadian premiere at TIFF earlier this month.
Opening Night And Beyond
SCAD will open the festival with Bleecker Street’s “A Talent for Murder,” directed by Anton Corbijn and starring Mirren. Mirren will also be honored during the festivities.
The festival’s 29th edition runs Oct. 24-31. Festival passes are on sale now, and individual event tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 2.
What The Director Says
Christina Routhier, senior executive director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, praised Moore’s work directly. “Julianne Moore is one of the most extraordinary actors of her generation, bringing emotional depth, wit and humanity to every role she inhabits,” she said. “Her extraordinary career represents the very best of cinematic artistry, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Savannah to celebrate her work with our students, our community and audiences from around the world.”
Moore’s Next Stage Role
After the festival, Moore returns to the New York stage for the first time since her 2006 Broadway debut in David Hare’s “The Vertical Hour.” She will play the title role in Sarah Ruhl’s “Faydra,” a modern take on the Greek myth of Phaedra. Les Waters directs. Previews begin Feb. 2 at New York City Center Stage I, with opening night set for Feb. 25.
Why This Fits Her
Moore’s Academy Award win for “Still Alice” capped a career defined by range — from dramatic roles like “Boogie Nights” and “The Hours” to lighter fare like “The Dead Donkey.” The Icon Award recognizes that body of work.
The festival’s choice of “The Dead Donkey” as its centerpiece is a vote of confidence in a film that has already drawn attention at Telluride and TIFF. The rapturous reception at Telluride suggests the film has legs beyond its world premiere stop.
Moore’s return to the stage with “Faydra” follows a year that included the Oscar win and four additional Academy Award nominations across her career. Her schedule shows no signs of slowing down.
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival has made a strong statement with its lineup. Opening with Mirren, honoring Moore with the Icon Award and featuring a centerpiece selection from one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses is a smart mix of prestige and current work.
Moore’s presence will draw attention to the festival itself. Her history with the institution makes her a natural fit for the award.
The Icon Award recognizes an actor whose work has touched nearly every corner of the industry.
Source material: “Julianne Moore to Receive Icon Award at SCAD Savannah Film Festival With ‘The Debut’ Set as Centerpiece Selection,” Variety.
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