Susan Sarandon is set to receive the Womenlands Excellence Award from the Rome Film Festival’s Alice in the City sidebar, an independent section of the festival dedicated to cinema for young audiences.
The award recognizes outstanding women in culture, entertainment, and activism. Sarandon will attend the event to champion the international premiere of “The Accompanist,” the feature directorial debut of Zach Woods, known for his role in “Silicon Valley.”
In the indie dramedy, Sarandon portrays Sylvia, a sharp-witted, chain-smoking first-time foster mother to eight-year-old Emily. The film received positive reviews during its June debut at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Organizers highlighted Sarandon’s extensive career, noting her evolution from roles in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Hunger” to iconic parts in “The Witches of Eastwick,” “Thelma & Louise,” and “Dead Man Walking.”
In a statement, the festival noted that Sarandon’s characters consistently explore themes of identity, desire, power, and freedom. They added that her journey is defined not just by her choices on screen but by her ability to maintain autonomy from the Hollywood system, aligning her artistic work with her personal convictions.
Sarandon recently appeared at the Venice Film Festival in September for Andrea Pallaoro’s “The Echo Chamber.” During that event, she revealed that she continues to face professional isolation in Hollywood due to her vocal support for Palestine.
Past recipients of the Womenlands Excellence Award include actresses Paz Vega and Nastassja Kinski, as well as Italian filmmaker Laura Luchetti.
The Rome Film Festival will take place from October 13 to 25.
Finally, another woman in the Alice in the City lineup! Representation matters, especially for younger audiences.
I’ll be at the festival! Can’t wait to see if The Accompanist is as good as the Tribeca reviews suggest.
Is this award really about excellence, or just another prestige move by the festival to attract A-listers?
Zach Woods directing? That’s interesting. He’s great on TV, but feature films are a different beast entirely.
Love seeing Sarandon recognized for her activism alongside her acting. She truly walks the walk.