WAILEA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui Film Festival organizers say Lupita Nyong’o has the magic touch of creativity.
Organizers of the four-day festival in Hawaii this week are honoring the 31-year-old Academy Award winner with their Rainmaker Award on Saturday. Organizers say the award honors a film artist for “having the magical ability to impact the creative dynamics of every project they touch.”
Nyong’o, who broke through as a star with her performance in “12 Years a Slave,” was recently announced as a cast member of “Star Wars: Episode VII.” The film under production from director J.J. Abrams is due to open in December 2015.
Nyong’o is expected to accept the award during a tribute before the premiere of another film.
The festival, which includes ocean-side outdoor screenings in Maui’s resort area of Wailea, is also honoring Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Manganiello and Emma Roberts.
Roberts, who appeared in “We’re the Millers” last year with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis, accepted the festival’s Shining Star Award on Thursday night. That award honors an artist “who dares to dream big dreams and delivers brilliantly charismatic and revelatory performances every time that opportunity knocks.”
Manganiello and Wood, both of HBO’s “True Blood,” were to receive awards Friday night.
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