Mark Wahlberg To Recieve Award For Imapct On Independent Films

Rapper turned movie star and television producer Mark Wahlberg will receive the Indie Impact Award from the entertainment trade newspaper Variety Sunday at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The award is presented to a performer “able to cross over to mainstream studio success without losing the quality of work and dynamic vision that first brought the artist into the spotlight,” Variety executive editor Steven Gaydos said today in announcing that Wahlberg will be the second recipient of the award.

“Mark’s distinguished acting career was launched in independent films such as `The Basketball Diaries’ and `Boogie Nights’ and he continues to prove his talent and his clout as a first-rank star,” Gaydos said.

“He has energized indie projects for significant American directors such as David O. Russell and Paul Thomas Anderson and big budget features for directors such as Martin Scorsese, while establishing himself as a major independent producing force in both film and television.”

Wahlberg will receive the award during Variety’s annual “10 Directors to Watch” presentation. This year marks the first time in the 15 years of the event that it will take place in Palm Springs, shifting location from the Sundance Film Festival, where the Indie Impact Award was first presented last year to Philip Seymour Hoffman.

“With Palm Springs’ longstanding commitment to showcasing the best in international and independent cinema, `Variety’ has a great partner to help us raise the profiles of filmmakers poised for terrific careers and must-see new films,” Gaydos said.

Palm Springs International Film Festival director Darryl Macdonald praised Variety for shifting its award presentations.

“Since its inception, this festival has been devoted to championing the work of new and previously unheralded international directors,” Macdonald said. “`10 Directors to Watch’ is a great event and a perfect match for this festival.”