Congratulations to Lucasfilm president (and our first Honorary Fantha Tracker) Kathleen Kennedy, who will recieve the Polly Platt Award for producing at the Austin Film Festival, which takes place 24th – 27th October. With an incredible track record of films spanning the decades, from classic Spielberg to the modern era of Star Wars, she follows in the footsteps of such names as Lauren Shuler Donner, Dede Gardner, Stephanie Allain and Sarah Green.
Established in 2019, the award “is given annually to producers with a keen sense of story, who have a history of fostering new talent.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Austin Film Festival’s Polly Platt Award for Producing,” Kennedy said in a statement. “Polly was not only an incredible producer and mentor to so many, with an impact and voice still felt to this day, but also a staunch supporter of the Austin Film Festival and a dear personal friend. Polly attended every year, right up until her passing, and I look forward to celebrating her legacy in October.”
Among her many films, Kennedy produced 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which remains the highest-grossing movie of all time in terms of domestic box office. She’s an eight-time Oscar nominee who has been a producer on more than 70 films which have collectively garnered 120 Oscar nominations — including several Star Wars movie and TV titles, the Back to the Future trilogy, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park and many others.
