Cate Blanchett, one of contemporary cinema’s leading actors, will receive a Donostia Award at the San Sebastian Festival’s 72nd edition as well as featuring on the official poster of. The image of the poster is the work of graphic designer José Luis Lanzagorta based on a photograph by Gustavo Papaleo.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Blanchett has racked up more than 200 acknowledgements and accolades, including two Academy Awards (and another six nominations), two Volpi Cups at the Venice Festival, four Baftas and four Golden Globes, an honorary César and International Goya for lifetime achievement in a career combining cinéma d’auteur with crowd pleasers. The Australian actor and producer has worked with filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Terrence Malick, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Sally Potter, Wes Anderson, Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Woody Allen, Gillian Armstrong, Taika Waititi, Peter Jackson, Todd Haynes, Richard Linklater, Jim Jarmusch, Guillermo del Toro, Adam McKay and Todd Field.  

While this will be Blanchett’s first visit to San Sebastian, the Festival has already screened a number of her films: Babel (Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Perlak, 2007) and Veronica Guerin (Joel Schumacher, Official Selection, 2003), competing for the Golden Shell.

Cate Blanchett is the second Australian actor to receive the Festival’s highest honorary award after Hugh Jackman (2013).