Mahershala Ali, whose very busy 2016 included performances in the films “Moonlight,” “Hidden Figures,” “Free State of Jones” and the TV shows “House of Cards” and “Luke Cage,” will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award at the 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, PSIFF organizers announced on Friday.
The award comes not for his entire body of work, but for his role as a paternal drug dealer who takes a young boy under his wing in Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight.” The role has brought Ali Golden Globe and SAG Awards nominations, and a supporting-actor win at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Past recipients of the award include Marion Cotillard, Felicity Huffman, Brie Larson, Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike and Jeremy Renner.
The PSIFF Awards Gala will be held on Monday, January 2, at the beginning of a film festival that will run through January 11. Other honorees include Amy Adams, Casey Affleck, Annette Bening, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Negga, the cast of “Hidden Figures” (including Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner and Jim Parsons) and “La La Land” stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling and director Damien Chazelle.
'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins and Cast Exclusive StudioWrap Portraits (Photos)
Actors Ashton Sanders, Alex Hibbert, Trevante Rhodes, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Actress Naomie Harris, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron/FH Studio for TheWrap
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Actor André Holland, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron/FH Studio for TheWrap
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Actor Mahershala Ali, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron/FH Studio for TheWrap
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Director Barry Jenkins, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron/FH Studio for TheWrap
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Trevante Rhodes, Barry Jenkins, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert, "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Back Row, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Ashton Sanders; front row, Mahershala Ali, director Barry Jenkins, Alex Hibbert of "Moonlight"
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
Photographed by Geneviève Caron /FH Studio
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TheWrap Magazine: Jenkins and the stars of his indie awards phenomenon sit down for interviews and photo shoot
Actors Ashton Sanders, Alex Hibbert, Trevante Rhodes, "Moonlight"