Newport Beach Film Festival Sets 2026 Honors Honorees
Taraji P. Henson, Jack O'Connell and Mckenna Grace are among the recipients announced for the festival's Honors ceremony on Oct. 18.
The Newport Beach Film Festival announced the recipients of its 2026 Festival Honors, with the ceremony set for Oct. 18 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California, on the festival's third day. Variety reported the lineup.
Taraji P. Henson will receive the Artist of Distinction Award. Jack O'Connell will take the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award, and Mckenna Grace will receive the Spotlight Award. Sosie Bacon is set for the Breakout Award, while Sarah Finn will be honored with the Casting Visionary Award.
Additional honors are tied to individual screenings and events. KJ Apa will receive the Spotlight Award at a screening of "Jimmy" on Oct. 17. Justin Hartley will receive the Artist of Distinction Award at a Sunset Series event on Oct. 19, and Jonás Cuarón will receive the same award at a screening of "Campeón Gabacho" on Oct. 19. Gemma Chan will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award at a screening of "Josephine" on Oct. 20.
Opening and Closing Night
The festival opens with "Frampton," followed by a live Q&A with Peter Frampton and director Rob Arthur. "Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires" will serve as the Special Event Closing Night Documentary Feature at the Lido Theater on Oct. 22.
The Honors event will be filmed for broadcast and aired in the key awards voting window in January on PBS SoCal.
Quick answers
When is the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors ceremony?
It will be held Oct. 18 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California, on the festival's third day.
Who is receiving the Artist of Distinction Award?
Taraji P. Henson will receive the award at the Honors ceremony, and Justin Hartley and Jonás Cuarón will each receive it at their respective festival events.
Where can viewers watch the Honors event?
It will be filmed for broadcast and aired in the key awards voting window in January on PBS SoCal.