Dwayne Johnson to Be Honored With Creative Impact in Acting Award From Variety at 2026 Palm Springs Film Festival

Variety will honor Golden Globe nominee Dwayne Johnson with the Creative Impact in Acting Award at the 2026 Palm Springs Film Festival. The award will be given as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch on January 4.

Actor, producer, and Seven Bucks Production founder Johnson will be recognized for his critically acclaimed performance in Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” which has garnered him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. The film has already earned accolades for Safdie, who received the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival, as well as co-star Emily Blunt, who also received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the Best Supporting Actress Category.

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“Dwayne Johnson is a revelation in ‘The Smashing Machine.’ His haunting and committed portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr is a testament to his willingness to forgo vanity to tell a truly human story. We are thrilled to honor Dwayne with Variety’s Acting Award in Palm Springs,” said Ramin Setoodeh, co-president and co-editor-in-chief of Variety.

Johnson, whose recent work includes “Moana 2,” which garnered over $1 billion globally, will next be seen reprising his role as Maui in the live-action “Moana,” set to release in summer 2026. He is also currently filming the next installment of the fan-favorite “Jumanji” franchise. Coming up, he is set to join forces with Safdie again on their second collaboration, “Lizard Music,” based off of a children’s book where Johnson will transform into the septuagenarian “Chicken Man.” He will also produce and star in Martin Scorsese’s Hawaii-set untitled crime drama alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt. Johnson is additionally attached to A24’s upcoming psychological thriller “Breakthrough,” penned by screenwriter Zeke Goodman and directed by Darren Aronofsky.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs from January 2 to 12, 2026. Passes and tickets are currently on sale. For additional information visit https://www.psfilmfest.org/.