Mikey Madison 'Breakthrough Actor' For 2025 Palm Springs Film Festival
Arts & Entertainment
Mikey Madison 'Breakthrough Actor' For 2025 Palm Springs Film Festival She will be honored at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 3 for her performance in Sean Baker's latest film, "Anora."PALM SPRINGS, CA — The Palm Springs Film Festival announced its Breakthrough Performance Award. Mikey Madison, star of "Anora," will receive that prestigious award at the 2025 Palm Springs Film Festival, according to a Deadline report on Thursday.
Madison will be honored at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 3 for her performance in Sean Baker's latest film, which took home the Palme d'Or after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the film, Madison portrayed the multifaceted Ani, an exotic dancer from Brooklyn who envisions a chance at a Cinderella story after marrying a client and son of a Russian billionaire. Madison also earned a Gotham Award nomination last week. "Anora" led all films with four Gotham nominations.
"Since winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes, `Anora' has been the most talked about film this season," festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said in a statement. "What makes this film so outstanding is Mikey Madison's mesmerizing breakout role that serves as the heart and soul of this story. It is our honor to present the Breakthrough Performance Award, to this talented actress in celebration of her outstanding work and star-making performance."
Baker, the movie's director, is known for spotlighting marginalized people in his projects, particularly sex workers, in hopes of removing mainstream stigmas. He told Variety that upon seeing Madison's acting in "Scream" (2022) with his wife and co-producer Samantha Quan, he informed Quan that he wanted to call Madison's agent as soon as they left the theater.
Madison's talent was first put on wider display with her part in the FX series "Better Things." She has also played supporting characters in a number of films, including "Scream" and Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
The actress received widespread acclaim for her commitment in "Anora," shadowing sex workers for months in preparation. Madison also adopted a Brooklyn accent, performed her own stunts and fight scenes and studied Russian for the role.
She joins Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor) and Netflix's "Emilia Pérez" (Vanguard Award) as announced honors recipients at PSIFF 2025, as of Thursday.
Last year's Breakthrough Award winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph ("The Holdovers"), took home an Oscar statuette for her performance. Other honorees include Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson, Lupita Nyong'o and Rosumund Pike.
After the ceremony on PSIFF 2025's second day, the film festival will continue through Jan. 13.
