Viola Davis To Receive Gregory Peck Award At San Diego International Film Festival

SAN DIEGO, CA — Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis will receive the Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence at the 25th San Diego International Film Festival, organizers announced.

Davis will be honored Oct. 13 during the festival's Night of the Stars Tribute at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. Cecilia Peck, filmmaker and daughter of actor Gregory Peck, will present the award.

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The honor recognizes individuals whose work has made a significant impact on cinema. Previous recipients include Mark Hamill, Penelope Ann Miller, Andy Garcia, Laurence Fishburne, Keith Carradine, Patrick Stewart and Annette Bening.

"Viola Davis is one of the most extraordinary artists of our time," festival CEO and Artistic Director Tonya Mantooth said in a statement.

"Her performances bring power, vulnerability, and truth to every role, while her work beyond the screen has helped create opportunities for others," Mantooth said. "The Gregory Peck Award celebrates an enduring contribution to cinema, and Viola Davis embodies that legacy. We are honored to celebrate her remarkable artistry and impact."

Davis is an EGOT winner, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. Her film credits include "Fences," for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress. She received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2025 Golden Globes and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2025.

The festival also announced that "The Debut," written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, will serve as its opening night film Oct. 14.

The film follows Mona Friedman, a shy housewife who lands a small role in a community theater production and becomes an intensely committed method actor. Produced by Emma Stone, the film stars Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov and Bernadette Peters.

The San Diego International Film Festival runs Oct. 13-18.