‘Global icon’ to be honoured at city film festival
ACTING legend Dame Judi Dench is being honoured at Cardiff’s answer to Cannes.
The 84-year-old star of stage and screen will be given a Lifetime Achievement Award at Cardiff International Film Festival on Sunday, October 27, on the final day of the glittering event.
Hollywood will mix with Bollywood at the festival, which gets under way in Cardiff on Thursday, October 24.
Festival director and founder Rahil Sayed said he believed Dame Judi deserved to be honoured as a “result of her portfolio of work” and due to her determination to perform despite the challenges she faces with her sight after being diagnosed with macular degeneration.
He said: “She is a deserving candidate and is one of the best actresses in the UK, the amount of work she is doing considering she is unable to read her lines any more is incredible.
“She is not just a national treasure but a global icon.”
Dame Judi said she was delighted to be recognised in such a way.
“I am honoured to be awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at Cardiff International Film Festival,” she said.
“I was in Wales last summer and I made some great friends and now I am looking forward to receiving this award in Wales once again.”
Welsh acting legend Dame Sian Phillips will be among the star-studded lineup and her movie Time and Again, which also stars Rachel Forsyth, will be premiered.
The prestigious Golden Dragon award will be given to Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who has previously been recognised with the Best Supporting Actor prize for The Lunchbox and starred in a number of major Bollywood films, including Black Friday and Kahani.
Mr Sayed said he was delighted the star would be at the event.
He said: “It’s huge for him to be coming to Cardiff, he’s in talks with filmmaker Martin Scorsese.”
Nawazuddin said he was pleased to be attending the event.
He said: “I am very excited to be part of Cardiff International Film Festival and look forward to attending the festival.
“I would like to congratulate all films being showcased at the festival this year.”
Hollywood actress AnnaLynne McCord, who starred in Milkshake Girls, along with Indian actress Divyanka Tripathi, will be taking part in a discussion panel entitled Women in Film – Challenges and Success alongside Bethan Sayed AM, who is the chair of the Welsh Government’s culture and media committee, and filmmaker Florence Ayisi.
There will be films from drama to horror showcased at the festival, which will also host the premiere of the Matthew Rhys movie Down The Caravan and will also screen Terry Pratchett’s Troll Bridge.
Edward Russell, of Doctor Who fame, will be hosting a workshop on getting your film or series ready for TV and Hollywood and British actor Joe Ferrera will be part of the film festival jury.
Films will be screened over a number of venues including the Pierhead Building, the Atrium, University of South Wales and the Senedd.
■ Visit www.theciff.co.uk information. for more