On September 22, American actor Johnny Depp will receive the Premio Donostia as a tribute for his entire artistic career. The 69th edition of the International Film Festival of San Sebastian takes place this year from 17-25 September.
In a press release, the DEPP festival organisation was typified as ‘one of the talented and most versatile actors of contemporary film art’. Whether this year more actors for the Premio Donostia are eligible has not been disclosed. Following the award ceremony, the film ‘La Hija’ by Manuel Martín will be shown at the festival.
Last year, Depp also had a role as a co-producer and actor of the participating documentary CROCK of Gold: A FEW Rounds with Shane Macgowan. The documentary was about the Irish Singer-songwriter of the same name and the recent history of Ireland. Also, during the 1998 International Festival, Depp made an appearance when ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ was screened.
Three Oscarnominations
Johnny Depp, now 58 has been nominated three times for an Oscar. Firstly, in 2004 for his breakthrough role in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearle’. A year later he was nominated for his role in the biographical drama film ‘Finding Neverland’. And again in 2008 for his role in the Tim Burton Musical ‘Sweeney Todd: The Denim Barber of Fleet Street’. However, none of these nominations won an Oscar.
Abuse
Depp suffered severe image damage when the UK newspaper, The Sun ‘announced he had abused his former wife and actress Amber Heard. Depp denied the allegations of domestic violence. And in turn, brought about a libel action against The Sun. However, the judge ruled the allegations were “substantially true”. And as a result, Depp lost his “wife-beater” libel case against the newspaper.
Following the court ruling, film producers, Warner Bros removed Depp from the role of Gellert Grindelberg in the film ‘Fantastic Beasts’. This character is now being interpreted by the Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.
Premio Donostia: Important oeuvre prize
In 1986 the important oeuvre prize Premio Donostia was awarded for the first time to the American actor Gregory Peck. Furthermore, since 2017, national and international directors have also been eligible for the prize. The first director to win the Premio Donostia was French, Agnès Varda. Other previous winners of the oeuvre prize include Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Stripe, Antonio Banderas, Emily Watson, Penélope Cruz, and Donald Sutherland. Furthermore, last year, the Premio Donostia went to the American actor Viggo Mortensen.
