Actress Susan Sarandon received an Icon Award at the Deauville American Film Festival, where she discussed her career, political activism, and her role in Zach Woods’ film The Accompanist. According to press interviews from the event, Sarandon used her platform to address the realities of independent filmmaking, international conflicts, and the political nature of art.
Honored at Deauville With an Icon Award
Susan Sarandon traveled to France for the Deauville American Film Festival, where organizers presented her with an Icon Award and invited her to inaugurate her own cabin along the town’s famous boardwalk, Les Planches. Speaking with journalists ahead of the ceremony, Sarandon reflected on the value of independent cinema and the storytelling process. “The goal of many festivals is to try to show films that are not supported by big budgets,” Sarandon said, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporting from the event. “The freedom to create art remains personal.” Festival director Aude Hesbert also spoke at the event regarding the industry’s hesitation to back unconventional projects.
Collaborating on The Accompanist
At Deauville, Sarandon appeared alongside director Zach Woods to discuss their new film, The Accompanist. In the movie, Sarandon portrays an insolent and mysterious septuagenarian—described by the actress as “a sort of sorcière” (witch)—who takes in a young girl placed in her care by child welfare services. Sarandon noted that she immersed herself fully in the character despite initial uncertainties about portraying deep-seated pain and loss.
The role marks another chapter in a career defined by portrayals of independent women, a trajectory anchored by her work in Ridley Scott’s road movie Thelma & Louise alongside Geena Davis. Reflecting on the film’s legacy, Sarandon pointed out that the script was originally a modest project before it transformed into a cultural touchstone for female friendship. “We didn’t anticipate that it would turn into what it became,” Sarandon told AFP. “We entered this territory owned by white heterosexual men… We were just having fun with this very macho situation.”
Art as a Political Platform
Long known for her outspoken political views, Sarandon maintained that storytelling is inherently political. She argued that artists have a duty to comment on societal conditions and provide human perspectives on unfamiliar experiences. Referencing her film Dead Man Walking, which explored the death penalty, she emphasized that films should prompt debate rather than dictate opinions.
Sarandon also directed criticism toward current political structures, asserting that governance under leaders like Donald Trump is heavily influenced by wealthy oligarchs. Addressing recent controversies regarding her own career and public statements supporting Palestinian rights, Sarandon shifted the focus outward. “Rather than talk about me, I would like to recall that in the West Bank and Gaza, children are killed as we speak and almost no one is talking about it,” Sarandon stated. “It is the same in Lebanon.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Sarandon received an Icon Award at the Deauville American Film Festival and inaugurated her named beach cabin on Les Planches.
- Sarandon stars in Zach Woods’ film The Accompanist as an eccentric older woman hosting a child placed by welfare services.
- She noted that she and co-star Geena Davis were simply having fun making a subversive movie, unaware that it would become a defining symbol of female friendship and independence.
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