Marion Cotillard to receive Breakthrough award at next Hollywood Awards

Marion Cotillard will receive the Hollywood Film Festival's "Hollywood Breakthrough Actress of the Year Award" at the Festival's October 22 awards ceremony.

Marion Cotillard's selection was determined due to her distinguished performance in Olivier Dahan's "La Vie en Rose," a biography of the famous French chanteuse Edith Piaf. From the slums of Paris to the limelight of New York, Edith Piaf's life was a battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Raised in poverty, Edith's magical voice and her passionate romances and friendships with the greatest names of the period -- Yves Montand, Jean Cocteau, Charles Aznavour, Marlene Dietrich, Marcel Cerdan and others -- made her a star all around the world. But in her audacious attempt to tame her tragic destiny, the Little Sparrow (her nickname) flew so high she could not fail to burn her wings. Picturehouse released "La Vie en Rose' on June 8th, and is currently playing in theatres across the country

"We are honored that Ms. Cotillard will be the recipient of this year's 'Hollywood Breakthrough Actress of the Year Award.' Her superb performance in 'La Vie en Rose' must be recognized and enjoyed by both the established industry and the public at large," said the Festival's executive director Carlos de Abreu.

The award will be presented to Ms. Cotillard during the Festival's black-tie awards ceremony banquet before a gathering of 1,200 industry and guild executives, stars, celebrities, filmmakers and media in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Previous recipients of the Festival's "Hollywood Breakthrough Awards" honors include Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley and Naomi Watts, among others.

Marion Cotillard was born in Paris and most recently appeared opposite Russell Crowe and Albert Finney in director Ridley Scott's "A Good Year," based on the internationally bestselling novel by Peter Mayle.

In 2005, Marion Cotillard was honored with the Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "A Very Long Engagement." This followed two Cesar nominations for Most Promising Actress, the first for Gérard Pires's "Taxi" (1998), the second for Gilles Paquet-Brenner's "Les Jolies Choses" (2001). Ms. Cotillard appeared in two sequels to the action comedy "Taxi," both directed by Gérard Krawczyk. On this side of the Atlantic, she made lasting impressions in director Tim Burton's "Big Fish" (2004) with Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, and Billy Crudup; and in Abel Ferrara's "Mary" (2005) with Juliette Binoche, Forest Whitaker, Matthew Modine, and Heather Graham. Marion Cotillard will next be seen in "L'Ennemi public n° 1" (Public Enemy No. 1), director Jean-François Richet's take on the story of Jacques Mesrine, one of France's master criminals during the 1970s, starring Vincent Cassel and Alain Delon. Filming concurrently, the sequel, "Death Instinct," will co-star Vincent Cassel and "Casino Royale's" Eva Green.

A spokesperson for Greenpeace, Marion Cotillard was one of several actors, singers, and designers involved in "Dessins pour le climat," a 2005 charity album, with all proceeds contributed to the environmental organization.

The 2007 Annual Hollywood Film Festival will take place from October 16 to 22. The Festival's screenings take place at ArcLight Theatres in Hollywood. Its Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Monday, October 22.