Variety to Honor John Turturro With the Creative Vanguard Award at Miami Film Festival

Emmy Award-winning actor, writer and director John Turturro will be honored with the Variety Creative Vanguard Award at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Film Festival GEMS on Monday, Nov. 2.

The event will take place at Miami Dade College Wolfson Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. The honor will be for Turturro’s achievements over more than four decades in the industry across film, theater and television. His upcoming film “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” written and directed by Noah Segan, will screen at the festival on Oct. 29, ahead of its wide release in theaters beginning on Oct. 30. The 13th Miami Film Festival Gems is scheduled Oct. 29 through Nov. 5 and will continue its tradition of celebrating this year’s top films and award contenders.

Turturro will participate in a Q&A about his work with Variety co-president and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh. “It’s fitting that John Turturro made his acting debut in an uncredited role in ‘Raging Bull’ without saying a word of dialogue,” said Setoodeh. “For nearly 50 years, his mere presence has been proof that audiences are in for something special. With a body of work that spans film, TV and theater – from ‘Barton Fink’ to ‘The Big Lebowski,’ ‘Severance’ to ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’ – there’s nothing he can’t do. His fearless approach to the craft makes him the perfect recipient of the Variety Creative Vanguard Award.”

“We are thrilled to welcome John Turturro to GEMS and celebrate his remarkable body of work with Variety‘s Creative Vanguard Award. From his unforgettable performances throughout his career to his latest turn in ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,’ John continues to bring an unmatched depth and authenticity to every role he takes on. His work has inspired generations of filmmakers, and we’re honored to recognize his enduring impact on American cinema at this year’s festival,” said Lauren Cohen, Director of Programming at Miami Film Festival.

John Turturro’s career spans more than four decades. His acclaimed film credits include “Do the Right Thing,” “The Big Lebowski,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” “Miller’s Crossing,” “Barton Fink,” “The Batman” and “Quiz Show,” for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. On television, Turturro won an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on Monk and received Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for “The Night Of” and “Severance.” Turturro received the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for “Mac,” his directorial debut. His other films as writer and director include “Illuminata,” “Romance & Cigarettes,” “Passione” and “Fading Gigolo.” Turturro starred as Mickey Sabbath in his and Ariel Levy’s stage adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel “Sabbath’s Theater” in 2023 and recently starred as Berenger in the adaptation by A.R.T of Eugène Ionesco’s play “Rhinoceros” with Paul Giamatti & Tatiana Maslany, directed by Diane Paulus.

Miami Dade College celebrates cinema in two annual events, Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival GEMS (Oct. 29-Nov. 5) and Miami Film Festival (44th annual edition, April 1-11, 2027). The Miami Film Festival is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S. and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival welcomes more than 45,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large.

For more information, visit http://www.miamifilmfestival.com/