Bill Nighy to receive International Star Award at Palm Springs film awards
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Actor Bill Nighy will receive the International Star Award, Actor at the Palm Springs International Film Awards for his performance in the film "Living."
The Film Awards will take place in person on Jan. 5 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the Palm Springs International Film Festival running through Jan. 16. The 2021 and 2022 festivals were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Living" revisits the story of Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film "Ikiru" and tells the story of Mr. Williams (Nighy), a beat down civil service employee who finds out he's terminally ill and decides to transform the last moments of his life into something marvelous. The film was directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro.
“Bill Nighy delivers a tender and moving performance, addressing both the weight of life and death in the masterful film Living,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner in a statement. “For this outstanding accomplishment and triumphant work across his acting career, it is our honor to present the International Star Award, Actor to Bill Nighy.”
An acclaimed actor of British theater and film, Nighy has been featured in films such as "Love Actually," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Valkyrie," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1" and "The Bookshop." He won a Tony Award in 2015 for his performance in the Broadway revival of David Hare's "Skylight." Nighy has also voiced characters in the animated films "Pokémon: Detective Pikachu," "Norm of the North," "Rango" and more.
Past recipients of the International Star Award, Actor include Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem and Gary Oldman. Last year's recipient, Daniel Kaluuya, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah."
The Palm Springs International Film Festival will be held Jan. 5-16.
Nighy joins previously announced honorees: Viola Davis (Chairman’s Award), Austin Butler (Breakthrough Performance Award, Cate Blanchett (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Colin Farrell (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Sarah Polley (Director of the Year Award), Michelle Yeoh (International Star Award) and The Fabelmans (The Vanguard Award). "Elvis" director Baz Luhrmann will receive the Creative Impact in Directing Award from Variety during the festival.
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Bill Nighy to receive International Star Award in Palm Springs
