The Dubai International Film Festival today announced that Jake Gyllenhaal, whose most recent credits include Nightcrawler, Southpaw, Everest and Demolition, will be presented with Variety‘s ‘International Star of the Year’ Award at the Festival’s 12th edition, to be held from December 9 to 16, 2015.
Variety, the premier source of entertainment news, annually presents this award to a great film personality at the Dubai International Film Festival in acknowledgment of their outstanding contribution to the industry.
Gyllenhaal shot to world attention in 2001 as the title role in the cult phenomenon psychological thriller, Donnie Darko, for which he received an Independent Sprit nomination for Best Actor. Among his best known roles are leads in Sam Mendes’ Jarhead (2005), his BAFTA-winning performance in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (2005), David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007), Jim Sheridan’s Brothers (2009), Duncan Jones’ Source Code (2011) and Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners (2013).
Gyllenhaal’s raw talent and commitment to his craft was showcased this past year in Dan Gilroy’s thrilling Nightcrawler (2014) for which he was recognized for his remarkable performance as a compelling sociopath with Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA Award nominations. Gyllenhaal also served as a Producer on the film. Further flexing his acting muscles, he underwent a punishing regimen to transform himself into champion boxer Billy Hope for Antoine Fuqua’s Southpaw. Most recently, Gyllenhaal got to grips with the challenge of playing Scott Fischer in Baltasar Kormákur’s account of the ill-fated 1996 climbing expedition, Everest, and his latest performance which adds to his impressive filmography is Jean-Marc Vallee’s highly anticipated Demolition.
Abdulhamid Juma, Chairman, Dubai International Film Festival, said: “Jake Gyllenhaal is a huge talent and undeniably one of the most accomplished actors of his generation. His screen presence has captivated audiences since his earliest roles and he is one of the most versatile actors working today. We are absolutely delighted to honour his extraordinary talents with Variety Magazine’s ‘International Star of the Year’ Award at this year’s festival.”
Steven Gaydos, Vice President, Executive Editor, Variety added: “Jake Gyllenhaal’s promise as an actor was clear almost from the beginning of his illustrious career. ‘Donnie Darko’ is a cult classic and his work in films such as ‘October Sky,’ ‘The Good Girl’ and ‘Moonlight Mile’ signaled the emergence of a major new acting talent. While his Oscar-nominated turn in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ delivered on that promise, the last few years have witnessed an explosion of great work that matches the best actors of any generation. ‘Southpaw,’ ‘Nightcrawler,’ ‘Enemy,’ ‘Prisoners,’ ‘Everest,’ and ‘End of Watch’ all demonstrate this vital young artist’s skills, amazing range and the depths to which he’ll travel to find his own unique truth and personal insights into each of these complex and often haunted characters.”
An exclusive public ‘In Conversation’ with Jake Gyllenhaal Q&A event will be held during the course of the Festival.
The DIFF box office is now open at www.dubaifilmfest.com. Additional information is also available through the Festival’s dedicated customer care number, 363 FILM (3456).