Isabelle Huppert‘s underdog Best Actress campaign got a nice boost today with the announcement the legendary French actress will receive a career tribute at AFI FEST 2016. The event will include a conversation with Huppert followed by a gala screening of her acclaimed performance in Paul Verhoeven‘s new thriller “Elle.”
READ MORE: Isabelle Huppert Reminds Us How Incredible She Is In New Clip From ‘Elle’
Huppert’s participation means both she and U.S. distributor Sony Classics are taking her chances for her first Oscar nomination very seriously. The tribute takes place the day after the 2016 Governors Awards and while we can’t confirm her attendance at the Saturday night ceremony it makes too much sense that her weekend in LA will be a one-two punch at both events. And, in case you were unaware, the Governors Awards has turned into the most significant awards politicking moment before nominations are announced simply because it’s a ballroom full of Academy members who actually vote.
“Elle” is also France’s submission for the Foreign Language Film Oscar so any time Huppert can represent the film at industry events and its screened is a win all around. Huppert also appears in Mia Hansen-Løve’s “Things to Come” which IFC Films is still inexplicably releasing in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 2 even though they could arguably get a bigger boost in the winter or spring following a potential nomination for Huppert in “Elle.” It is unclear if “Things to Come” will also screen at AFI FEST.
In a press release announcing the event AFI FEST director Jacqueline Lyanga noted, “Isabelle Huppert is a masterful actress. Her fearlessness and precision shine in ‘Elle,’ and we are thrilled to honor her illustrious career at the 30th edition of AFI FEST, as she exemplifies the best of world cinema.”
As you’ll hear again and again over the next few months, the Best Actress race is the most competitive in recent memory. Natalie Portman (“Jackie”), Emma Stone (“La La Land”), Viola Davis (“Fences”), Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”), Annette Bening (“20th Century Women”), Amy Adams (“Arrival,” “Nocturnal Animals”), Taraji P. Henson (“Hidden Figures”), Ruth Negga (“Loving”), Emily Blunt (“The Girl on the Train”) and, potentially, Marion Cotillard (“Allied”). So, any chance to showcase a contender or their work can’t be discounted. Especially since Huppert is long overdue for Academy recognition.
AFI FEST 2016, which runs from Nov. 10-17, will kick things off with the world premiere of Warren Beatty’s “Rules Don’t Apply.” While many of the film selections have not been revealed yet the festival previously announced it will spotlight Dorothy Dandridge, the first African American nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award; Ida Lupino, the first woman to direct a film noir; and Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American actress to rise to international prominence.
Gregory Ellwood’s Current Oscar Predictions:
Best Picture
Director
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Editing – Coming Soon
Cinematography – Coming Soon
Animated Feature Film – Coming Soon
Foreign Language Film – Coming Soon
Documentary Feature – Coming Soon
Original Score – Coming Soon
Original Song – Coming Soon
Costumes – Coming Soon
Makeup and Hairstyling – Coming Soon
Visual Effects – Coming Soon
Sound Mixing – Coming Soon
Sound Editing – Coming Soon
For more Oscar and industry insight follow Gregory Ellwood on Twitter @TheGregoryE.