Variety to Honor Yorgos Lanthimos With Creative Impact in Directing Award at Palm Springs Film Festival

Variety will honor “Poor Things” director Yorgos Lanthimos with the Creative Impact in Directing Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The award, which is for the director’s body of work including “The Favourite”, “The Lobster” and “The Killing of A Sacred Deer,” will be presented as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch presented by DIRECTV on Jan. 5 at the Parker Palm Springs. “Poor Things” star and frequent collaborator with Yorgos, Emma Stone, will be on hand to present him the award at the brunch.

“Poor Things” debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival where it won the Golden Lion. The Searchlight Pictures film has continued to wow audiences after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. It won the Bronze Frog for cinematographer Robbie Ryan and the Audience Award at CamerImage, as well as the Audience Award at the Stockholm Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival and more.

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“Poor Things” was just named to both the AFI and National Board of Review lists of the year’s top 10 films in addition to receiving a Gotham Award nomination, amongst its first awards season accolades. The film has recently received seven Golden Globe nominations including best musical or comedy motion picture and best director, as well as 13 Critics Choice Awards nominations including for best picture and best director. Lanthimos’ previous Venice premieres were “Alps” (Golden Osella for Best Screenplay, 2011) and “The Favourite,” which won the festival’s Grand Jury Prize before being nominated for 10 Academy Awards including best picture and best director and winning seven BAFTA Awards including outstanding British film. His filmography also includes the Oscar-nominated and Un Certain Regard-winning “Dogtooth”; his English-language debut, the Cannes Jury Prize winner and Oscar nominee “The Lobster”; Cannes prize winner for best Screenplay, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”; and his acclaimed feature debut “Kinetta,” which premiered at Toronto and Berlin.

“Yorgos Lanthimos established himself as one of world cinema’s top filmmakers nearly 15 years ago when his film ‘Dogtooth’ startled and excited the crowds in Cannes at its premiere,” said Variety’s Executive Vice President Content, Steven Gaydos. “Every film since, including ‘Alps,’ ‘The Lobster’ and ‘The Favourite’ has been an event, but this year’s ‘Poor Things,’ is the crowning achievement in his wildly thriving career. The Golden Lion in Venice was only the beginning of the acclaim and Variety is proud to join the chorus of salutes to Lanthimos’ fearless vision and superb mastery of his craft.”

Variety will announce its 10 Directors to Watch on Jan. 3 timed to the issue. Previous Creative Impact in Directing honorees include Baz Luhrmann, Ryan Coogler, Charlie Kaufman and Patty Jenkins.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs Jan. 4 to 15, 2024. Passes and tickets are currently on sale. For additional information visit www.psfilmfest.org.

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