Newport Beach Film Festival unveils 2023 UK honours ahead of 16th February ceremony

The Newport Beach Film Festival has today unveiled the 11 actors whose outstanding work in film and television will be honoured at an exclusive event on February 16^th 2023. Hosted by Edith Bowman, and in partnership with Variety magazine, the UK Honours will take place in the heart of London’s film entertainment district and marks the start of the BAFTA celebrations across the city.

President and CEO of Newport Beach & Company, Gary Sherwin said, “Newport Beach Film Festival is invested in championing unique and extraordinary talent, and our UK Honours have a long history of highlighting the unrivalled creative British and Irish talent working in our industry today. After a two-year hiatus, we are thrilled to be back in London to celebrate the enormous contribution these actors and the British creative industry as a whole make within the global entertainment community.”

Letitia Wright (Black Panther; Wakanda Forever), Gemma Chan (Don’t Worry Darling), Taron Egerton (Blackbird), Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody), Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Toby Jones (Empire of Light, The Wonder) are each being recognised as 2023 Artists of Distinction. These awards are bestowed on actors who have given stellar performances in a wide range of roles and have captivated audiences around the world on the big and small screens.

Micheal Ward, (Empire of Light), Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Lydia West (Inside Man), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), and Aimee Lou-Wood (Living) have all been highlighted as breakout honourees as a result of unique and distinct performances early in their careers.

In addition to the individual awards, the critically acclaimed new film Living is also being recognised as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement in British Cinema Award. Stephen Woolley, Elizabeth Karlsen (producers) and Kazuo Ishiguro (writer) are expected to attend to accept the award.

For 24 years, the Newport Beach Film Festival, one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States, has included a dedicated UK showcase during its eight-day program. In 2015, the film festival and Visit Newport Beach partnered to elevate the connection to the UK industry by honouring talent via the Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honours.

Recent honourees have included Sir Ian Holm, Richard E Grant, Sir Patrick Stewart, Lord Julian Fellowes, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Ncuti Gatwa, Erin Doherty, Asa Butterfield, Lesley Manville, Charles Dance, Alice Eve, Celia Imrie, Laura Carmichael, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Jodie Turner-Smith, Zawe Ashton, Sheila Atim and Joanne Froggatt.

Also to be presented at the event will be the recipients of Variety’s Ten Brit’s to Watch, an honour the industry publication has been awarding since 2013 on artists across all entertainment media. This year’s cohort includes Yasmin Finney (Heartstopper), India Amarteifio (Sex Education) and Leo Woodall (The White Lotus).

Further recipients for the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honours to be announced in coming weeks.

The editorial unit

Full list of Newport Beach Film Festival UK Honours honourees (listed in alphabetical order):

Artist of Distinction
Gemma Chan
Letitia Wright
Naomi Ackie
Paul Mescal
Taron Egerton
Toby Jones

Breakout Artist
Aimee Lou-Wood
Dafne Keen
Lydia West
Micheal Ward
Nicola Coughlan

Outstanding Achievement in British Cinema
Living – Stephen Woolley, Elizabeth Karlsen (producers), Kazuo Ishiguro (writer)