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Australian actress Cate Blanchett is set to be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, the organizers announced on Thursday. Cate Blanchett will also be featured on the main poster of this prominent event, the most notable film festival in the Spanish-speaking world, scheduled to take place from September 20 to 28, 2024.
This year, San Sebastian Film Festival will honor Cate Blanchett. The internationally-acclaimed actress earned two Academy Awards: Best Actress for her role in Woody Allen’s 2004 drama Blue Jasmine and Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator. Her illustrious career spans collaborations with several acclaimed directors, including Terrence Malick, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro G. Inarritu and Guillermo del Toro. The San Sebastian festival organizers recognized her as “one of contemporary cinema’s leading actors,” noting her ability to bridge the gap between auteur cinema and mainstream blockbusters.
Previous recipients of the Donostia Award, the festival’s highest honorary accolade, include Meryl Streep, Richard Gere and Robert De Niro. This visit will mark Blanchett’s first to San Sebastian. She will be the second Australian to accept this prestigious award, following actor Hugh Jackman.
In addition to her accolades for art-house films, Cate Blanchett ventured into blockbuster territory, notably portraying the elf leader Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and a Marvel villain in Thor: Ragnarok. Spanish actor Javier Bardem is also slated to receive the Donostia Award, which he was awarded last year but could not accept due to the Hollywood actors’ strike, as stated by the organizers. The award is named after the Basque term for the coastal town of San Sebastian.
Cate Blanchett is celebrated as an outstanding actress due to her remarkable versatility and profound ability to delve into complex characters. Her expansive body of work showcases a wide range of roles across different genres, from historical figures to fantastical characters, each portrayed with impeccable depth and authenticity. Blanchett’s compelling screen presence and mastery of nuances allow her to convey subtle emotions and powerful transformations convincingly. Her dedication to her craft is evident in the meticulous research and preparation she undertakes for each role, bringing a unique life and integrity to her performances. This commitment has not only garnered her critical acclaim but also a strong following among audiences worldwide, securing her place as a leading figure in the global film industry.
