Annette Bening will be Honored by AFI Fest

Annette Bening will be honored with a tribute for her career and her work in Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women, which will be screened as an AFI Fest centerpiece gala on November 16.

Bening heads into the Oscar race with strong buzz and a long career of great and diverse performances. Bening has often come very close to winning the Oscar for her work over the years but has never quite gotten there. Some think her work in 20th Century Women might finally be the one. Just in case you thought the Best Actress race was going to be an easy category to predict. It’s anything but. Emma Stone is still the one to beat (according to a few of us), and Viola Davis also overdue and likely to give an emotionally powerful performance. Then there is Natalie Portman as Jackie, which is supposed to be a career best. And Amy Adams has a calling card of many Oscar nominations and no wins, with two powerful performances this year in Arrival and Nocturnal Animals. Finally, there is Jessica Chastain who holds down the entire film Miss Sloane with yet another strong performance.

Bening this year must overcome sort of the same conundrum she faced with The Kids Are All Right, which is that her role can be seen, to a degree, as supporting or at least co-lead. 20th Century Women is told mainly through the eyes of the boy, as a tribute to the women who helped shape him into adulthood. Though the story does move around through the various points of view of the women, it’s really about the boy coming of age. The Kids Are All Right was about a whole family, even if Bening stole the show. Were 20th Century Women more focused on her character and not spread out over many characters it seems to me her Oscar prospects would be a much easier call.

Still, Bening is probably one of the most beloved actress in town with many friends. She has a very good chance at taking the prize on Oscar Night if she does what Julianne Moore did and Brie Larson did and Marion Cotillard did. You have to be everywhere all of the time, shaking hands, having conversations, dominating the red carpet with gorgeous clothes, etc. It can be done. It’s not easy but in a year like this one it could make the difference. Emma Stone has been running the festival circuit already, and has the advantage of starring in the film that might win (probably will win) Best Picture.

It’s going to be quite the race.

[Press release]:

Festival Will Celebrate Bening’s Career With Tribute and Centerpiece Gala Screening of 20TH CENTURY WOMEN

Patron Packages That Include Tribute and Gala Seating Available Now at AFI.com

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 13, 2016 — The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today that AFI FEST 2016 presented by Audi will honor actress Annette Bening with a Tribute and Centerpiece Gala screening at the festival. The Tribute will celebrate her extraordinary career and will include a conversation with the actress followed by A24 and Annapurna Pictures’ 20TH CENTURY WOMEN (DIR Mike Mills) on Wednesday, November 16.

“Annette Bening is a modern-day icon of American cinema,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, AFI FEST Director. “She brings her characters to life with an emotional intelligence that is luminous and powerful. In 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, she finds one of her richest roles yet, delivering a strong performance that anchors the film’s terrific ensemble cast.”

Bening is a four-time Academy Award® nominee for her indelible performances in THE GRIFTERS (1990), AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999), BEING JULIA (2004) and THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (2010). Her other credits include VALMONT (1989), BUGSY (1991), THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995), GINGER & ROSA (2012) and AFI FEST 2016 Opening Night film RULES DON’T APPLY (2016). She has won BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Awards, and garnered Emmy® and Tony® nominations for her television and stage work, respectively.