Antonio Banderas will be presented with the International Star Award, Actor for his performance in “Pain and Glory” at the 31st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). The annual gala will take place on Thursday, Jan. 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The festival runs January 2-13, 2020.
“Throughout his career Antonio Banderas has garnered international acclaim and world recognition from his memorable performances. In his latest film “Pain and Glory,” Antonio Banderas gives another deeply moving performance as aging film director Salvador Mallo going through a creative crisis as he reflects on the choice’s he’s made throughout his life,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “The Palm Springs International Film Festival is honored to present the International Star Award, Actor to Antonio Banderas.”
Past recipients of the International Star Award include Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Gary Oldman and Saoirse Ronan. He joins previously announced honorees Jennifer Lopez (Spotlight Award), Joaquin Phoenix (Chairman’s Award), Martin Scorsese (Sonny Bono Visionary Award), Charlize Theron (International Star Award) and Renée Zellweger (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress).
In the semiautobiographical film (read TheWrap’s review), Banderas portrays filmmaker Salvador Mallo, whose physical and mental travails have blocked him from what he loves most — making movies. Banderas won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for the role.
In his four-decade career, Banderas has played a wide variety of roles, from Tom Hanks’ lover in 1993’s Philadelphia, the vampire Armand in the following year’s “Interview With a Vampire,” masked hero Zorro twice, and Puss in Boots in three “Shrek” films and a spin-off movie.