Academy Award nominated-actress Naomi Watts will receive the 2019 Orry-Kelly Award at the Australians in Film’s (AiF) 8th Annual AiF Awards Gala and Benefit Dinner, an annual fundraising event celebrating Australian talent in the entertainment industry. The award, which celebrates Watts’ continued excellence in international cinema and television and her inspiration to her peers in the industry, will be presented to her at the star-studded event held at the Intercontinental Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

The Orry-Kelly Award is given to an Australian whose body of work has provided inspiration globally in film and television and who continues to give back to the Australian industry.

Kate Marks, President of Australians in Film said, “2019 has been a remarkable year so far for Naomi Watts, so we are thrilled to be honoring and celebrating her impressive body of work. Coming off a powerful performance in The Loudest Voice, and a lead role in “Penguin Bloom” – her first Australian film since 2013 – which she also produced, Naomi’s work continues to challenge and inspire audiences around the world.”

Two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts has garnered several accolades throughout her career including nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award. She was recently seen in Showtime’s limited series “The Loudest Voice” alongside Russell Crowe and Sienna Miller. Watts will also produce and star alongside Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver in Penguin Bloom, the upcoming feature film based on the bestselling book, which has just finished shooting in Sydney, Australia. Her feature film credits include – most recently – “Luce” and “Ophelia,” as well as “Mulholland Drive,” “The Impossible,” “21 Grams,” “I Heart Huckabees,” “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” “St. Vincent,” “The Ring,” “King Kong,” “Eastern Promises,” “Fair Game,” “J. Edgar,” “The International” and “The Painted Veil.”

Watts joins previously announced honorees: Ruby Rose (The CW’s “Batwoman”), Sarah Snook (HBO’s “Succession”), Dacre Montgomery (Netflix’s “Stranger Things”) and director Anthony Maras (“Hotel Mumbai”) and Bill Draper (Warner Bros’ President Worldwide Physical Production).

The fundraising event will be hosted by Australian singer-songwriter, comedian, writer and actor, Eddie Perfect, best known for his performance in critically acclaimed series “Offspring” and more recently for his Tony-nominated work on Broadway, writing the score for “Beetlejuice.”

The 8th AiF Awards Gala and Benefit Dinner is presented by Ausfilm, Screen Australia and Create NSW and proudly supported by media partners Vogue and GQ Australia, together with Qantas, AiF’s official airline and hotel partner, The Standard Hollywood. Beverage partners include Bird in Hand, Penfolds, Mr Black and Little Creatures.

The awards support AiF’s non-profit mission to usher Australian talent into the international market and provide educational and career development programs including the highly successful creative work sharing space, Charlie’s in Hollywood.

About Australians in Film
Founded in 2001, Australians in Film is a Los Angeles based non-profit screen organization that supports its members with career development and education programs including the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship, Mentor LA, Village Roadshow/Animal Logic Entertainment Internship, Greg Coote Fellowship, Gateway LA and The Writers Room. AiF is based at Charlie’s, a shared workspace at the historic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Charlie’s is a bespoke hub for business, collaboration and networking for the Australian screen community in Los Angeles and it is where AiF holds its industry education programs. For more information about joining AiF, http://www.australiansinfilm.org/JoinAiF Follow on Twitter: @australiansfilm and Instagram: @AustraliansinFilm

About AusFilm
Ausfilm connects international filmmakers with Australia’s talent, screen agencies, studio complexes, locations and production facilities. On behalf of the Australian Government Ausfilm markets Australia’s Screen Production Incentive Scheme, which comprises the Location, PDV (post, digital and visual effects) and Producer Offsets. Ausfilm is an Australian industry – government partnership. It comprises Australia’s Federal and State Governments; the major studios; leading post, sound and visual effects facilities; and production service providers. Ausfilm has offices in Los Angeles and Sydney. For more information visit: www.ausfilm.com.

About Screen Australia
Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government agency charged with supporting Australian screen content through development, production and promotion across television, film, documentary and digital originals. The agency administers Australia’s official co-production program, in addition to the Producer Offset tax rebate which assists eligible television, film and online works to be made. Screen Australia provides a range of resources and opportunities to the industry including access to research, market intelligence plus special initiatives such as its highly success Gender Matters program. For more information visit screenaustralia.gov.au

About Create NSW
Based in Sydney, Create NSW is the State government’s integrated agency for arts, screen and culture. Create NSW offers incentives to attract footloose production and post-production to NSW and offers location and production liaison services to eligible productions considering locating in NSW. For more information, visit www.create.nsw.gov.au