‘Nyad’ Star Annette Bening Set for L.A. Tribute – The Hollywood Reporter

Annette Bening, who was to have received the Golden Medallion for significant contribution to the world of cinema at September’s Telluride Film Festival — where the latest film in which the veteran actress stars, Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi’s Diana Nyad biopic Nyad, had its world premiere — but who was unable to attend the fest due to the actors strike, will be presented with the honor at a special event in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 6, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The Bening tribute will include a career-retrospective conversation, interspersed with clips, moderated by her Nyad co-star Jodie Foster, and a presentation of the award by Meg Ryan.

This marks the first time that Telluride has presented an honor outside of the dates of its festival. 

“Annette Bening has long deserved a tribute in Telluride — and everywhere else on the planet,” Telluride Film Festival executive director Julie Huntsinger said in a statement. “It was devastating to not be able to honor her at our 50th this year, so it is a righting of the world that we get to salute her and her incredible body of work, together in person, on Jan. 6.”

Added Bening, who was nominated for the best drama actress Golden Globe Award last week for her performance in Nyad, “I’m thrilled to have been chosen to receive the Telluride Golden Medallion. Thank you so much to all of the folks at Telluride for this amazing honor.”

Previous recipients of the Golden Medallion include Cate Blanchett, Anthony Hopkins and Kate Winslet.