Kevin Spacey to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award in Cannes Amid Controversy
Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor, is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Better World Fund’s 10th anniversary gala dinner in Cannes next week. The award, which recognises excellence in film and television, has sparked controversy given Spacey’s tumultuous past.
According to a statement made by the fund, Spacey will be "recognised not only for his decades of artistic brilliance but also for his enduring impact on cinema and the arts". The gala, which is not an official part of the Cannes film festival, will take place at the prestigious Carlton Hotel in Cannes. Spacey will also be in attendance to help find buyers for his new film, The Awakening, which is being presented in the Marche du Cannes, the industry market in the basement of the Palais du Cinema.
The news of Spacey’s visit to Cannes has been met with a mixed response, with some expressing disappointment and sadness. "I used to love Kevin Spacey as an actor," said Valèrie Guelminger, a spectator waiting for stars to walk the red carpet. "But now I feel sad and disappointed, and I am not sure I would cheer him on if he walked by now." Others have also questioned the decision to award Spacey, with Canadian screenwriter Stephanie Johns stating, "There are so many high-profile white men who could get an award like that, so why invite him? Couldn’t they get anyone else?"
The award comes at a time when the film industry is still reeling from the aftermath of the
