Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence made history in Spain on Friday night. The 35-year-old became the youngest recipient of the San Sebastian Film Festival’s prestigious Donostia Award.
Her achievement drew a thunderous standing ovation inside the packed Kursaal Theatre.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE RECEIVES HONOUR
Jennifer Lawrence, best known globally for The Hunger Games, accepted the prize with emotion, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She told the audience: “Thank you to the San Sebastian Film Festival for thinking of me for this incredible honour.
LOVE FOR CINEMA
I’m so happy to be here, Jennifer Lawrence said. Not just for the food, which is reason enough to visit, but because there’s something really special about being at a festival like this where people genuinely love cinema and storytelling.
A place where every corner of the globe can teach us about each other, bring us together for shared emotional experience.
Sometimes to remind us, at just the right moment, that maybe we are all more connected than it may seem.”
LOVE FOR CINEMA
Festival director José Luis Rebordinos explained the decision, according to Just Jared.
“She’s very young, she has an Oscar, she’s worked with very important directors, and at the same time, she’s the girl of The Hunger Games.
Young people want to see her and that is essential if we want new generations to love cinema.”
JENNIFER LAWRENCE ON GAZA
Jennifer Lawrence also spoke earlier about the conflict in Gaza. “I’m terrified and it’s mortifying,” she said.
“What’s happening is no less than a genocide, and it’s unacceptable. I’m terrified for my children, for all of our children.”
THE DONOSTIA AWARD
Jennifer Lawrence’s career reflects the debate on how film connects nations, International Film Festival does locally. In Spain, she premiered her new film Die, My Love, starring opposite Robert Pattinson.
The Donostia Award has honoured Hollywood icons including Penélope Cruz, Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett. Now, Jennifer Lawrence has joined that list, and broken a record while doing so.