Robert Downey Jr. To Be Honored At Britannia Awards

The 23^rd annual Britannia Awards will be held at the Beverley Hilton in Los Angeles on Oct. 30, and this year’s honorees will be Robert Downey, Jr. Mark Ruffaio, Mike Leigh, Dame Judi Dench, and Emma Watson.

According to the organization’s website, the ceremony celebrates “individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the art forms of the moving image in the U.S., U.K. and beyond.”

BBC America will broadcast the event on Nov. 2, which will be hosted, once again, by Rob Brydon, who also hosted last year’s event. BAFTA’s Bumble Ward and Deborah Kolar will serve as co-chairs.

Downey will be the recipient of the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film which, according to BAFTA, is presented to “”a unique individual, upon whose work is stamped the indelible mark of authorship and commitment, and who has lifted the craft to new heights.” Previously this award has been given to such notable performers as Warren Beatty, Jeff Bridges, Tom Cruise, Daniel Day-Lewis, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, George Lucas, Sean Penn, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney.

Ruffalo will be the recipient of this year’s Britannia Humanitarian Award, which is presented to “a colleague who has used their position in the entertainment industry to create positive social change and actively shine a light on important humanitarian issues.” Ruffalo is one of the co-founders Water Defense, which is a non-profit that uses technology and public engagement to keep waterways and drinking water free from contamination. In the past it has been given to Richard Curtis, Don Cheadle, Colin Firth, and Idris Elba.

Leigh will be given the John Schlesigner Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing, which is presented to “deeply respected, distinctive and innovative directors whose contribution as both technicians and artists represents the zenith of the directing profession.” Kathryn Bielow received this honor last year.

Dench will be the recipient of the Albert B. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment which is presented to “that rare breed of iconic and trailblazing individuals who innovative approach has had a profound, lasting impact on the entertainment industry and whose contributions to the moving image are second to none.” It was given to Sir Ben Kingsley last year.

And finally, Watson, who is the youngest to be honored at this year’s ceremony, will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year, which is presented to “a talented British artist whose outstanding performances in a year have demonstrated the high quality of their craftsmanship [and] who represents the best of British talent.” Past honorees include Daniel Craig, Kate Winslet, Tilda Swinton, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Blunt, Michael Sheen, Rachel Weisz, and Benedict Cumberbatch.