Annette Bening and Warren Beatty at the San Diego International Film Festival. Photo. S. Valle.
Former San Diego resident, Annette Bening, was honored at the 15th Annual San Diego International Film Festival September 29, 2016. She was awarded the Gregory Peck Award for excellence in cinema at Variety’s Night of the Stars at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, California.
Bening, and her husband Warren Beatty, were the most anticipated guests of the night. Bening lived in San Diego and went to Pershing Junior High School back in the 70s. One of her personal guests at this special event was Ellen McLaughlin, one of her high school teachers. Bening and Beatty were very gracious on the red carpet, and stopped to speak with media and fans.
The Big Band Theory actor Simon Helberg at San Diego Film Festival. Photo S. Valle
Covering the SDiFF is one of the highlights of the year for me. And this year was exceptionally exciting. I had the chance to chat with Simon Helberg and Jason Mitchell, two of the actors honored at the annual awards ceremony.
SDFF Simon Helberg and Suzette Valle 2016
Simon Helberg was honored with The Auteur Award. Helbergh is fresh off his role opposite Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in “Florence Foster Jenkins.” He’s best known for his role in “The Big Bang Theory,” for which he’s received numerous nominations.
The Auteur Award recognizes a multi-talented actor who brings unique personal visions to their craft. Helberg has earned acclaim for his versatile performances on screens both big and small, as well as behind the camera as a writer and director.
I congratulated Helberg for his award because it’s a special recognition for his work both in front and behind the camera.
Simon Helberg SDFF 2016 Click for video interview.
Jason Mitchell at SDFF 2016. Photo S. Valle
“Straight Outta Compton” actor Jason Mitchell was honored with the Rising Star Award.
The Rising Star Award recognizes an actor whose early work exhibits significant promise and critical acclaim while taking on challenging film roles. Jason Mitchell has steadily been building a reputation as an actor on the rise and has achieved critical acclaim for his role portraying the iconic “Eazy E” in Universal’s 2015 N.W.A. biopic, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, directed by F. Gary Gray. He won the African American Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as sharing nominations with his fellow cast mates for Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards. His performance in the film also landed him on New York Times Magazine’s “Top Ten Performers of the Year” list in 2015.
Mitchell and I spoke only briefly because he had a large group of fans waiting for him after the red carpet press line.
SDFF 2016 Jason Mitchel Red Carpet
Once he was finished with the red carpet, he stopped and signed autographs for all of his fans!
Jason Mitchell signs autographs at the San Diego Film Festival 2016. Photo S. Valle
By the time actress Kate Beckinsale hit the red carpet, it was late and she was rushed through straight into the ceremony. But I managed to catch her giving one short interview before she was whisked away.
SDFF Kate Beckinsale and Alex Valle Red Carpet 2016
A few of the other actors who attended The San Diego International Film Festival were “Ally McBeal” actor Gil Bellows, and J.J. Totah who will be seen in “Spiderman Homecoming.”
“Ally Mcbeal” Gil Bellows at SDFF 2016. Photo S. Valle
J.J. Totah at SDFF 2016 Photo S. Valle
For more photos and news about the 2016 San Diego International Film Festival, be sure to check out their website at http://sdfilmfest.com/.
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