Two-time Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts will receive a major career honor at one of Europe’s most respected film festivals. The San Sebastián Film Festival announced that the British-born Australian actress will be awarded the Donostia Award during its 74th edition in September 2026.
The festival runs from September 18 to 26, 2026, in the northern Spanish coastal city. Naomi Watts will receive her award on September 19 at the Kursaal convention center, followed by a screening of her latest movie The Housewife.
The 57-year-old actress joins legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog, whose Donostia Award was announced earlier in August 2026. The festival called Watts “one of her generation’s most talented and award-winning actresses,” praising how she “combines independent films with big productions on both the big and the small screen”.
A Career That Defined Modern Cinema
Watts first captured global attention with her breakthrough role in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001). The festival described her performance as “ranked among the finest in contemporary cinema”. That film turned her into a household name and opened doors to major Hollywood productions.
She earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 21 Grams (2003). Her second Oscar nomination came for J.A. Bayona’s The Impossible (2012), where she played a mother caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The role also earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Naomi Watts has worked with some of cinema’s most respected directors. Her filmography includes collaborations with Peter Jackson (King Kong, 2005), David Cronenberg (Eastern Promises, 2007), Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar, 2011), Michael Haneke (Funny Games, 2007), and Woody Allen (You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, 2010). She also appeared in the Oscar-winning film Birdman (2014).
On television, Watts earned her first Emmy Award nomination for playing Babe Paley in Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, where she also served as executive producer. She has starred in shows including The Loudest Voice, The Watcher, and Gypsy.
This is not Watts’ first visit to San Sebastián. She attended the festival in 2009 with director Rodrigo García to close the Official Selection with Mother & Child.
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The Housewife: Her Latest Film
The Housewife marks the directorial debut of Canadian filmmaker Ben Shirinian. The film stars Naomi Watts alongside Tye Sheridan, Luke Evans, Michael Imperioli, and Lena Olin.
Set in 1964, the movie is based on a true story about a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York. The journalist befriends the suspect’s charming wife, played by Watts, creating a tense dramatic situation.
The film will screen immediately following Watts’ award ceremony on September 19. The Housewife has also earned Watts another honor. Just days after San Sebastián, she will receive the Golden Eye Award at the Zurich Film Festival, specifically celebrating her performance in the film.
Watts recently gained attention beyond acting for her advocacy work. She has become a vocal activist for menopause awareness and women’s health.
The Donostia Award is the highest honor given by the San Sebastián Film Festival. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the film industry over a career. The award places Watts alongside previous winners like Werner Herzog and other cinema legends.
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