Naomi Watts to receive Donostia Award at 2026 San Sebastian Film Festival

Winter 1999. During the shooting of one of the most memorable scenes in 'Mulholland Drive', ranked the second-best film of the century so far by the 'New York Times' and widely praised by specialist critics, a then unknown Naomi Watts manages to draw an unusual round of applause from everyone on set, including its director, the late David Lynch, whom the actress has recalled for the way he kick-started her career with this unforgettable, dreamlike drama.More than 20 years on, the English actress will receive the Donostia Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Zinemaldia, after a career that has taken her from horror classics (The Ring), through major box-office hits (Juan Antonio Bayona's The Impossible) to Ryan Murphy's television camp (Feud).

Watts, nominated twice for the Oscars and the Golden Globes, as well as once for the British BAFTA awards, Spain's Goya prizes and the television Emmy, has been recognised by the historic San Sebastián festival as "one of the most talented and recognisable actresses of her generation". Among the other renowned directors she has worked with are Alejandro Iñárritu, both on '21 Grams' and 'Birdman', Michael Haneke, Woody Allen and Noah Baumbach.The Zinemaldia jury has confirmed that Watts will receive the award on 19 September at a gala after which 'La esposa perfecta', by Ben Shirinian, will be screened.

It is a drama in which a young 'NYT' journalist uncovers a possible Nazi officer living in Queens while striking up a friendship with the suspect's wife.The festival had already announced in August that the first of the Donostia Awards would go to director, screenwriter, producer and actor Werner Herzog. The list of previous honourees at the Basque event includes Gregory Peck, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Francis Ford Coppola, Agnès Varda, Catherine Deneuve and Pedro Almodóvar.