Jennifer Lawrence was honoured with the Premio Donostia 2025 at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, becoming the youngest recipient of the award at age 35. With an Oscar, Golden Globe, and a career spanning blockbuster franchises and acclaimed dramas, she joined a list of past winners including Penélope Cruz and Julia Roberts.
“It’s a huge honour,” she said, before reflecting on the cultural climate in the US. “Our freedom of speech is under attack in America, including in the world of film, where we realise that we are all connected and need empathy and freedom.”
Lawrence presented her new film Kill Me Love, a project she also produced, and urged young filmmakers to persist: “Learn, go to casting tests, keep trying. But above all, watching films is very important.”
She highlighted the importance of women’s voices in Hollywood, praising creators like Greta Gerwig for showing how more opportunities lead to more diverse stories.
This year’s festival carried a strong political tone, dominated by protests and speeches in support of Palestine amid the war in Gaza. Thousands demonstrated at the opening, and throughout the week filmmakers and actors used the stage to denounce violence and call for solidarity.
For Lawrence, the award not only celebrated her career but also underscored cinema’s role as a platform for creativity, empathy, and activism.
