"Over the past 10 years, CineVegas has honored an impressive body of actors, directors and producers and this year is no exception," the Festival directed noted with a lot of enthusiasm.
What better way to celebrate a decade of recognizing talent than to honor - James Caan, Don Cheadle, Rosario Dawson, Anjelica Huston, Viggo Mortensen and Sam Rockwell - whose brazen careers mirrored the excellence of the myriad innovative and uninhibited films the Fest unveils each year?
James Caan was honored with the Festival’s Vegas Icon Award (sponsored by the LVCVA) which is presented to an actor - who not only embodied the spirit of Las Vegas - but also delivered up memorable performances in films and shows set in the desert city.
The honorees participated in moderated conversations at the Festival which were open to the general public a few days later.
The Marquee Award was given to Anjelica Huston for her illustrious accomplishments in the film industry.
In addition - Don Cheadle, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen and Sam Rockwell - were rewarded with Half-Life Awards for their exemplary achievements on celluloid to date.
Anjelica Huston has received a couple of dozen honors in a long impressive theatrical career which include multiple nods from the National Society of Film Critics, two Independent Spirit Awards, Los Angeles and New York Film Critics Awards, and an honor from Women in Film.
Also, Huston received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Prizzi's Honor", and a Golden Globe for her role in HBO's original movie "Iron Jawed Angels".
Although she's the daughter of respected actor/director John Huston - and a high-profile celebrity in her own right - many filmgoers first came to be familiar with her work through her long-time romantic association with film great, Jack Nicholson.
Since being named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics for his breakout performance opposite Denzel Washington in - "Devil in a Blue Dress" - actor Don Cheadle has consistently turned in powerful performances on both stage and screen.
Other stand-out roles include those scripted in "Talk to Me"; the Oscar-winning, "Crash" (Cheadle produced); The Hotel Rwanda (Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Broadcast Film Critics Award); "Reign Over Me"; and award-winning "Traffic".
Cheadle is also well recognized for his television work.
In recent years, he has become known to the American public for his humanitarian efforts in war-torn countries overseas, which have occasionally been captured on film in the form of powerful documentaries (Darfur Now).
Rosario Dawson (KIDS) emerged recently as one of Hollywood’s most sought after leading ladies.
The talented actress was featured in Tarantino’s horror project - "Grindhouse" - as well as "Descent" (which served as her producing debut).
Other memorable roles include that of "Mimi Valdez" in the 2005 film adaptation of "Rent".
Fans may recall she played "Gail" in the 2005 film noir drama "Sin City".
Dawson also starred in "Explicit Ills" - which premiered and won the audience award at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival - and was later unveiled at the 2008 CineVegas Film Festival.
Although Viggo Mortensen is mainly known as an actor to the American filmgoing public, the talented man is also a highly accomplished actor, poet, photographer and painter.In essence, he's what you would call a Renaissance Man.
His film career has been marked by a steady stream of diverse performances since his debut as a young Amish farmer in "Witness".
Critics stood up and took notice of his work in "A History of Violence", for instance, and the blockbuster hit "The Lord of the Rings", and "The Reflecting Skin".
As part of Mortensen’s tribute, CineVegas screened "Alatriste".
In that project, Vitto exacted a bang-on characterization of the Spanish soldier-turned-mercenary, Captain Alatriste.
Sam Rockwell is a dynamic actor known for taking on challenging roles and creating memorable characters in the process.After his feature film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's "Clown House", the biz welcomed him with open arms.
Mr. Rockwell has starred in "Joshua", "Heist', "The Green Mile", and the popular hit, "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
Rockwell’s portrayal of Chuck Barris in "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" won the actor critical praise at the Berlin Film Festival (Best Actor Award).
And, he nabbed Movieline's "Breakthrough Performance" of the year award, for the same role.
Rockwell is also a stage actor who wowed audiences in "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" at the Public Theater.
Versatile actor - James Caan - is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as mobsteer Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" and for his Emmy-nominated portrayal of celebrated football star Brian Piccalo in "Brian’s Song".
Caan has appeared in a staggering 50 feature films and along the illustrious way earned many plaudits.
Most recently, he was highly praised for his powerful insightful performances in "Misery" and "The Rain People" (in the latter, he turned in a skilled performance portraying a brain-damaged football star).
In sum, Caan is a true Vegas icon.
The awards were given out at a CineVegas Honorees Reception.
