David O. Russell Named Director Of The Year By Film Festival
David O. Russell will receive the Director of the Year Award at its the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, it was announced on Thursday.
“From his very first movie to the present, the talent and style of director David O. Russell has garnered both audience and critical acclaim,” said Palm Springs International Film Festival chairman Harold Matzner. “In his latest effort, The Fighter, he works again with actor Mark Wahlberg who portrays a man refusing to take no for an answer when it comes to pursuing his dreams. The result is an excellent film. Through directorial technique, use of technology, complex and engaging storytelling, the films of David O. Russell are guaranteed to be riveting and innovative. The Palm Springs International Film Festival is proud to present him with the 2011 Director of the Year Award.”
Russell earned critical acclaim early in his career when he wrote and directed his first feature film, Spanking the Monkey. This film premiered at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Sundance Audience Award. It also was named Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards that year. His second film was the acclaimed comedy Flirting With Disaster, which appeared on many top ten lists for 1996.
Past Director of the Year honorees include Alexander Payne, Jason Reitman, Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu, Anthony Minghella, Sean Penn and Ang Lee. David O. Russell directs The Fighter, inspired by the true story of unlikely boxing champ, “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), and his half-brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), who decided that, no matter the odds against them and no matter their differences, they weren’t going to give up on their shared dreams without a fight. The film from Paramount Pictures also stars Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.
The Awards Gala will kick off the 2011 awards season on Saturday, January 8 at the Palm Springs Convention Center and will be hosted by “Entertainment Tonight’s” Mary Hart. Russell will join previously announced honorees Javier Bardem, Robert Duvall, Colin Firth, Jennifer Lawrence, Carey Mulligan and Natalie Portman. The Festival runs January 6-17.
