In what sounds like a hoax, disgraced actor Kevin Spacey will be handed the Award for Excellence in Film and Television by the Better World Fund at a gala in Cannes.
The award will be presented at the Fund’s 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner tomorrow, with the fund confirming that Spacey will be honoured for his “artistic brilliance” and “impact on cinema and the arts.”
“We are truly privileged to welcome Kevin Spacey as our Guest of Honor and Honoree at the Better World Fund Gala,” Manuel Collas De La Roche, The President & Founder of the Better World Fund, said in a statement.
“Kevin’s extraordinary contributions to the art of cinema have left a mark on audiences and filmmakers alike. His talent, depth, and commitment to storytelling exemplify the transformative power of film. It is with great excitement that we celebrate his legacy and presence at this meaningful gathering.”
However, it is worth noting that this lifetime achievement award is not an official part of the Cannes Film Festival. Even if the ceremony takes place at the Carlton Hotel – one of the premiere sites of the festival - Better World Fund Gala is not directly associated with Cannes.
Spacey’s trip to the Croisette is more of a shameless gimmick to help sell his new movie, The Awakening.
Indeed, the British thriller is being presented in the Marché, the industry market in the basement of the Palais du Cinema, and producer Matt Hookings of Camelot Films even confirmed that bringing Spacey to Cannes is all part of his company’s “guerrilla marketing” to bring attention to the film.
“So if anyone speaks to him, he could say he’s in Cannes and receiving an award, but he’s also here with ‘The Awakening,’ so the film gets plugged,” said Hookings.
The project will be one of Spacey’s first films since his career nosedived following several allegations of sexual misconduct.
Two years ago, he was found not guilty of sex crimes after a lengthy UK trial and was previously cleared of sexual assault charges in a 2022 civil lawsuit in New York. However, the actor still remains a divisive figure linked to the #MeToo movement.
Spacey was last on the Croisette in 2016, and since then, he’s been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 30 men.
There’s even been chatter that Spacey may make an appearance on the red carpet during his time in Cannes. This move may be nixed by the festival, who may not want to associate itself with the actor and give the impression of an “uncancelling” - especially since the Cannes festival recently banned French actor Theo Navarro-Mussy from the red carpet after it became aware of allegations of rape against him.
Navarro-Mussy was in the Competition film Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll.
When you also add the fact that the festival’s opening day was overshadowed by the conviction of actor Gérard Depardieu on sexual assault charges, there’s every reason to believe that Spacey will not be strutting down the Cannes red carpet this year.
Not that the producer of The Awakening is that bothered. As long as conversation happens around Spacey’s attempt to claw his way back to the mainstream.
“A lot of people really like him, so you’ll have a lot of people going, ‘This is really cool,’ said Hookings. “And then you’ll have some people that’ll be like, ‘What the fuck is he doing here?’ But hopefully the people who say, ‘What the fuck is he doing,’ when they realize why he’s here they’ll give him a second chance.”
