David Oyelowo named Palm Springs Fest Breakthrough ActorDecember 8, 2014 - 12:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - David Oyelowo will be honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor, at the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala, the PSIFF announced Sunday, Dec 7, according to Variety. The gala will be held Jan. 3 at the Palm Springs Convention center, hosted by Mary Hart. The fest runs Jan. 2-12. Oyelowo is being feted for his performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.” The film, which is garnering Oscar buzz, follows the three-month period in 1965 when King led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “David Oyelowo’s transformation into Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. is truly outstanding,” said fest chairman Harold Matzner in a statement. “He perfectly re-creates King’s mannerisms and speech cadence, and moreover, captures the spirit of one of the greatest leaders in history, giving audiences a rewarding portrait of this iconic man that is deeply layered and effecting. For this phenomenal portrayal it is an honor to present him with the 2015 Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor.” Previously announced honorees at this year’s fest include Julianne Moore, Richard Linklater, Eddie Redmayne, Rosamund Pike, Reese Witherspoon, J.K. Simmons and the cast of “The Imitation Game.” In past years, Lupita Nyong’o, Marion Cotillard, Felicity Huffman, Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Hudson have received the award. Cotillard, Hudson and Nyong’o would receive Oscars in the same year they were honored by PSIFF, with Huffman and Renner receiving nominations. This year, Oyelowo has also appeared in “A Most Violent Year,” “Interstellar” and “Default.” Top stories Ara Aivazian said Azerbaijan continues the traditions of Turkey after seizing territories and forced Armenians out. The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |