American actor Jamie Foxx will be receiving the spotlight award at the upcoming Palm Springs Film Festival in January next year for his role in the legal drama film Just Mercy, according to a report by Variety.
The festival’s chairman Harold Matzner said, “In Just Mercy, Jamie Foxx gives a moving and truly remarkable performance as Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death for a murder, for which he was wrongly convicted.”
“This is an inspiring drama that brings an important story about how our justice system can fail to the big screen. It is a story that audiences should see. It is our honour to present the spotlight award to actor Jamie Foxx,” he added.
Just Mercy is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who with the help of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson had appealed his wrongful murder conviction.
The film and Foxx’s performance met with positive response and earned him the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role by the Screen Actors Guild.
Past recipient of the spotlight award include actor Bryan Cranston, Andrew Garfield, J.K. Simmons and Sam Rockwell.
The festival will be held from 2 to 13 January.