This year’s San Diego Film Festival again partners with Variety to honor four stars: Adrien Brody will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award; the Reframed Humanitarian Award will go to Geena Davis; the Auteur Award is being given to Brit Marling; and John Boyega will get the Rising Star Award.
SDFF will fete the honorees on Oct. 1 at Variety’s Night of the Stars tribute and party.
Two high-profile films anchor the fest: It opens with “Septembers of Shiraz” (pictured), Wayne Blair’s Iranian thriller starring Brody and Salma Hayek; and it will host the world premiere of Lawrence Roeck’s “Diablo,” starring Scott Eastwood, Camilla Belle, Walton Goggins and Danny Glover.
“This is a nice coup for us,” says programming VP Tonya Mantooth.
A western set in the 1870s, “Diablo” was lensed by cinematographer Dean Cundey.
Other highlights from the Gala, Competition, Spotlight and Short Film sections include Daniel Alfredson’s “Go With Me,” starring Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles and Ray Liotta; Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth,” starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano and Jane Fonda; Adam Salky’s “I Smile Back,” starring Sarah Silverman and Josh Charles; Tony McNamara’s dramedy “Ashby,” starring Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff, Emma Roberts and Silverman; Reed Morano’s drama “Meadowland,” starring Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson and Juno Temple; and Ryan Jaffe’s comedy drama “This Is Happening,” starring Kenny Apel, Rene Auberjonois, Cloris Leachman and Mickey Sumner.
