Penélope Cruz to receive Variety award at Palm Springs film fest for 'Ferrari'

Variety will honor "Ferrari" actress Penélope Cruz with the Creative Impact in Acting Award at the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The award will be presented as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch on Jan. 5 at the Parker Palm Springs.

Cruz will be recognized for her decades-long career, which includes roles in the films "Volver," "Nine," "Parallel Mothers" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," for which she won an Oscar for best supporting actress.

Her latest film, "Ferrari," directed by Michael Mann, stars Adam Driver as the iconic race car driver and entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari. Cruz plays Laura Ferrari, Enzo's wife, who grieves the loss of their son and uncovers his secrets.

The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and will be out in theaters on Dec. 25. It was named one of the year's top 10 films by the National Board of Review, and Cruz earned a Gotham Award nomination for outstanding supporting performance.

“More than 30 years after her stunning film debut in Bigas Lunas' Venice Festival prize winner, 'Jamón Jamón,' Penélope Cruz continues startling global film audiences with her limitless versatility in films created by the world's finest directors,” Variety’s Executive Vice President Content, Steven Gaydos said in a statement.

"Her long association with Pedro Almodóvar has won her major accolades, and she took home the Oscar for Woody Allen's 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona.' She's now at the peak of her powers in Michael Mann's masterpiece, 'Ferrari.' It's Variety's great honor to present our Creative Impact in Acting to Penélope Cruz, for both her illustrious career and for her powerful performance as the unforgettable woman at the heart of 'Ferrari.'"

"Poor Things" director Yorgos Lanthimos and "Killers of the Flower Moon" co-screenwriter Eric Roth are also set to receive honors at the Jan. 5 event. Variety will announce its 10 Directors to Watch on Jan. 3.

Palm Springs International Film Award honorees include "Killers of the Flower Moon" (Vanguard Award), Emma Stone (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Cillian Murphy (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Breakthrough Performance Award), Greta Gerwig (Director of the Year Award), Jeffrey Wright (Career Achievement Award), Carey Mulligan (International Star Award, Actress), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor), Danielle Brooks (Spotlight Award, Actress) and Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell (Chairman's Award).

The Palm Springs International Film Festival will run Jan. 4 through 15. For more information, visit www.psfilmfest.org or call 760-778-8979 or 800-898-7256.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Penélope Cruz to receive Variety award in Palm Springs for 'Ferrari'