Alexander Payne will receive the prestigious “Pardo d’Onore” award at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, joining a celebrated group of honorees that includes Lucy Liu, Emma Thompson, and Jackie Chan.
The award ceremony is set for Friday, August 15. During the event, Payne will showcase two of his highly regarded films – The Descendants (2011) and Nebraska (2013) – and engage in an open dialogue with festival attendees.
In its announcement, the festival hailed Payne as “the distinctive voice behind a collection of modern classics infused with humor,” noting that he has carved out a significant place among the directors shaping 21st-century American cinema.
“His films have garnered three Oscars, three BAFTAs, and eight Golden Globes, celebrated for their unforgettable performances and their commitment to mid-budget cinema aimed at adult audiences – an art form that is consistently under pressure and deserves support,” the statement read.
Born in Nebraska in 1961, Payne pursued film studies at UCLA, where his student projects drew the attention of Hollywood. He made his directorial debut with Citizen Ruth in 1996, featuring Laura Dern, which premiered at Sundance. Since then, he has directed a total of eight feature films, each characterized by its elegant structure, sharp humor, and tragicomic performances from a stellar lineup of actors.
The festival’s artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro, described Payne as “an intellectual visionary with extensive film knowledge,” portraying him as a director who addresses human vulnerabilities with a touch of humor.
Nazzaro emphasized: “Endowed with a keen instinct for the bittersweet elements of human comedy, he is a creator of profound sensitivities. A masterful director, he has collaborated with notable actors like Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Matt Damon, Bruce Dern, and Paul Giamatti. His works reflect his mastery of American cinematic artistry, his poetic sensibility, and his distinctiveness.”
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