The cast of King Richard will be honored at the Palm Springs International Film Gala on Jan. 6.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PALM SPIRNGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The cast of King Richard has been honored with the Ensemble Performance Award. by the Palm Springs International Film Awards. The award will be presented to Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Jon Bernthal and Tony Goldwyn, who are all expected to attend.
The Film Awards will take place in-person on Jan. 6, 2022 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running through Jan. 17. The event will be presented by American Express and sponsored by Entertainment Tonight.
“King Richard is a wonderful film that tells the emotional story of Richard William’s determination and vision that, along with the steady support of his wife Oracene, turned their daughters Venus and Serena into tennis superstars,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “Will Smith absolutely transforms into Richard, alongside a powerful Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene, in this true ensemble film that also features exceptional performances from newcomers Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena, and an impressive cast, including Tony Goldwyn and Jon Bernthal as pivotal coaches Paul Cohen and Rick Macci.”
Past recipients of the Ensemble Performance Award include the cast of the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Argo, as well as past Best Picture nominees American Hustle, The Big Short, Hidden Figures, The Imitation Game and The Social Network.
King Richard joins this year’s previously announced honorees Belfast presented to writer and director Kenneth Branagh and cast members Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds and Jude Hill (Vanguard Award); Jane Campion (Director of the Year Award); Jessica Chastain (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress); Penélope Cruz (International Star Award, Actress); Kristen Stewart (Spotlight Award, Actress), Jennifer Hudson (Chairman's Award), and Andrew Garfield (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actors).
Based on a true story, King Richard follows the uplifting journey of a family whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately delivers two of the world’s greatest sports legends. Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on Compton, California’s neglected tennis courts — rain or shine — the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s balanced perspective and keen intuition, defying the seemingly insurmountable odds and prevailing expectations laid before them.
The film from Warner Bros. Pictures is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The National Board of Review included the film on their top film list and awarded Smith with Best Actor and Ellis with Best Supporting Actress.
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