Jane Campion will be honored with the Director of the Year Award, for The Power of the Dog at the Palm Springs International Film Awards. The Film Awards will take place in-person on January 6, 2022 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running through January 17, 2022.
“Jane Campion has once again created a cinematic masterpiece with her latest film The Power of the Dog. This psychological drama set against a Western backdrop, brings to life Thomas Savage’s novel with stellar work from an ensemble cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. “For this bold achievement, it is our honor to present Jane Campion with the Director of the Year Award.”
Past recipients of the Director of the Year Award include Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Babel, Birdman), Steve Mc Queen (12 Years a Slave), Alexander Payne (Sideways), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air), David O. Russell (The Fighter), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) who all went on to receive Best Director Academy Award nominations. Iñárritu and Zhao received a Best Director Academy Award for their films. Campion joins this year’s previously announced honorees Penélope Cruz (International Star Award, Actress) and Kristen Stewart (Spotlight Award, Actress).
In The Power of the Dog, charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love. The Netflix film is written, produced and directed by Campion stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Campion was awarded the Silver Lion for directing at the Venice International Film Festival. The film is now in theaters and will be released on Netflix December 1st.
Jane Campion is best known for her debut feature The Piano, in which she was the first female director to win the Palme D’Or and one of only seven women ever to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar. The film also received over 30 international awards along with 9 Academy Award nominations and 3 wins including for Best Screenplay. Her other films include Sweetie which premiered at Cannes; An Angel at My Table which won 7 prizes at Venice Film Festival, including the Silver Lion; The Portrait of a Lady which was nominated for 2 Academy Awards; Holy Smoke which was nominated for the Golden Lion and won the Elvira Notari Prize at Venice; In the Cut which premiered at Toronto; and Bright Star which was nominated for the Golden Palm in Cannes. In television, Jane created, co-wrote, co-directed and executive produced the two season mini-series Top of the Lake. The series ultimately received 8 Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Lead Actress for Elizabeth Moss, who also won a Golden Globe for her performance.