“Few can claim the artistic distinctions of Helen Hunt,” stated Film Festival Chairman Harold Matzner announcing the honor. “A consummate actress, director, producer and screenwriter, Hunt’s talents are myriad. From her award-winning portrayal of Jamie on Mad About You, an iconic character that helped to define a generation, to her work on Then She Found Me, which was honored at the 2008 Palm Springs International Film Festival, Hunt has demonstrated that the sky’s the limit when it comes to her talents. In her latest film, The Sessions, Hunt gives a bravura performance as a therapist with a most delicate task-to help a man who has spent his life in an iron lung achieve a most unusual wish- lose his virginity. Because of her sensitivity and grace in this performance, and to recognize a career of continuing achievement, the Palm Springs International Film Festival is proud to present the Spotlight Award to Helen Hunt.”
Hunt follows in the footsteps of past honorees Amy Adams and Jessica Chastain who both earned Oscar nominations for the work they were honored by the Palm Springs International Film Festival for.
More on The Sessions:
Hunt co-stars in Fox Searchlight Pictures’ The Sessions, based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien. The Sessions tells the story of a man who lived most of his life in an iron lung who is determined – at age 38 – to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapist and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. John Hawkes and William H. Macy also star in a film written for the screen and directed by Ben Levin.
More on Helen Hunt [Courtesy of the PSIFF]:
Helen Hunt has enjoyed a diverse career not only as an award-winning actress, but more recently as an accomplished writer, director and producer. Hunt attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2008 for the Opening Night screening of her film Then She Found Me, which she co-wrote, produced and directed. The film won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Festival. Her other film credits include Soul Surfer, Bobby, As Good As It Gets, What Women Want, Castaway, A Good Woman, Robert Altman’s Dr. T and the Women, Pay It Forward and Twister. She most recently completed work on Steven Bernstein’s Decoding Annie Parker with Samantha Morton.
Some of Hunt’s television work includes Mad About You and the critically acclaimed HBO Miniseries Empire Falls. For her role as Jamie Buchman in Mad About You, Hunt garnered four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards (three as lead actress and one as Producer for Best Comedy), and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also won the Best Actress Award at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the Oscars for her role in the film As Good As It Gets.
Source: Palm Springs International Film Festival
—Posted by Rebecca Murray
Helen Hunt Earns Spotlight Award
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