Oscar, Emmy and Tony-award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn is set to receive the prestigious Liberatum Pioneer Award at this year's Venice Film Festival in recognition of her remarkable contributions to cinema over her illustrious career. The 91-year-old acting icon will be honored at a special Women in Creativity event and gala dinner on September 4 at the Blue Pavilion in the Palazzina Grassi Hotel along the Grand Canal in Venice.
Burstyn's journey in the world of entertainment began on Broadway in 1957 with her debut in Fair Game. She later transitioned to television, becoming a familiar face throughout the 1960s. However, it was in the 1970s that Burstyn truly made her mark on the silver screen, earning critical acclaim for her roles in iconic films such as The Last Picture Show (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), which garnered her an Academy Award nomination.
Her crowning achievement came in 1974 when she clinched the coveted Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Alice Hyatt in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Burstyn's talent transcended the big screen, as evidenced by her Tony Award win for Best Actress in Same Time, Next Year, a role she reprised in the film adaptation, earning her yet another Oscar nomination.
Throughout her career, Burstyn has amassed an impressive array of accolades, including eight Emmy nominations and two wins. Her Emmy victories came in 2009 for her guest appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and in 2013 for her role in the miniseries Political Animals.
The Liberatum Pioneer Award ceremony, organized by culture diplomacy organization Liberatum and co-hosted by arts patron Aaron Roni Neumark, promises to be a memorable celebration of Burstyn's extraordinary career. This prestigious honor adds to Burstyn's already illustrious legacy in the entertainment industry.
Notable past recipients of the Liberatum Pioneer Award include Angela Bassett and Brazilian anthropologist Ivete Sacramento. The 81st Venice Film Festival, where Burstyn will be feted, is scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 7, showcasing the best of international cinema.
