The Hollywood Creative Alliance is proud to announce their initial wave of special honorees that will be celebrated at the 2025 Astra Film Awards, taking place on Friday, January 9th, 2026, in Beverly Hills. The Astras are committed to bringing together an inclusive community of actors, filmmakers, and creatives as they celebrate excellence in film and honor achievements across an expansive spectrum of storytelling.
“I am incredibly proud of this year’s lineup, which I believe is one of our strongest to date,” said Matthew Cole Weiss, EVP of The Astra Awards. “This year’s honorees represent excellence both in front of and behind the camera, with a remarkable range of talent, experience, and storytelling that spans generations and continents. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these exceptional individuals whose work continues to inspire audiences around the world.”
This year’s Astra Film Awards honorees embody an exceptional span of artistic innovation, career accomplishment, cultural impact, and emerging talent. Their contributions perfectly reflect the spirit of the Astra Awards, as we continue to spotlight bold voices, groundbreaking performances, and visionary filmmaking that push the industry forward. These honorees are not only shaping the narrative in this moment but are inspiring audiences while paving the way for the next generation of industry icons.
Dylan O’Brien — Game Changer Award
Dylan O’Brien is being honored with the Game Changer Award for his eclectic body of work and his proclivity for championing unique and personal storytelling. He can currently be seen starring in “Twinless,” opposite writer-director James Sweeney. O’Brien also served as an Executive Producer on “Twinless,” which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and O’Brien won the Special Jury Award for Acting. Additionally, O’Brien’s critically acclaimed dual portrayal of twins Roman and Rocky was recognized with honors at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the Miami Film Festival GEMS, and a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
O’Brien’s upcoming projects include the Sam Raimi-directed horror-thriller “Send Help,” co-starring Rachel McAdams, and the disability rights drama “Being Heumann” from Oscar-winning writer-director Sian Heder. His other recent credits include the 2024 Sundance drama “Ponyboi,” Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” and the M. Night Shyamalan-produced “Caddo Lake,” for which O’Brien was nominated for a Gotham Television Award for Outstanding Performance in an Original Film.
Jennifer Love Hewitt — Trailblazer Award
Actor, producer, and multi-hyphenate creative Jennifer Love Hewitt will be honored with this year’s Trailblazer Award. With a career spanning more than three decades, Hewitt has continuously reinvented herself across film, television, and music. Most recently, she starred in, directed, and executive produced the Lifetime film “The Holiday Junkie.” Her latest book “Inheriting Magic” is a heartfelt exploration of the grief she experienced after her mother’s passing and the traditions, recipes, and “magic” she inherited from her. The book can be purchased at bookstores nationwide. She also recently returned to her iconic role of Julie James in Sony Pictures’ “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” which is now streaming on Netflix.
From her iconic ’90s classics to her continued success with 9-1-1, Hewitt has not only spent the majority of her life working in entertainment, but has also used her platform to advocate for meaningful change both within the industry and beyond. Hewitt’s philanthropic efforts include long-standing support for children’s charities, the LGBTQ+ community, fundraising initiatives for wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles, and advocacy for issues such as grief and motherhood, body positivity, and anti-ageism. Hewitt has consistently spoken out against the sexism and objectification women face in Hollywood, further cementing her legacy as an artist committed to creating a more inclusive and compassionate world.
HIKARI — Filmmaker on the Rise Award
Actress-turned-filmmaker HIKARI will be honored with the Filmmaker on the Rise Award at the Astra Film Awards. The Filmmaker on the Rise Award celebrates visionary directors whose emerging bodies of work prompt conversation and leave a lasting impact on audiences. Across her rapidly ascending career, Hikari has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to craft intimate, emotionally resonant stories with striking visual clarity and humanistic nuance.
“Rental Family,” her second feature-length film, is a deeply moving and beautiful experience that highlights HIKARI’s storytelling powers. With a delicate balance of humor, heartbreak, and hope, the film offers a poignant exploration of loneliness, family, and connection in modern society. Hikari brings an extraordinary sensitivity to each frame, guiding performances that feel authentic and lived-in while inviting audiences to reflect on the relationships—real or fabricated—that shape our sense of belonging. “Rental Family” stands as a testament to her ability to create cinema that lingers, resonates, and ultimately reaffirms the transformative power of human connection.
Madeleine McGraw — Star on the Rise Award
Sixteen-year-old actress and producer Madeleine McGraw will receive this year’s Star on the Rise Award. McGraw began her acting career at the age of four with her debut role in Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper.” Over the past decade, she has appeared in several film and television projects including “Pacific Rim Uprising” and “Robbie Ain’t Right No More.”
In 2021, McGraw delivered a breakthrough performance as Gwen Blake in Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone.” The film became a box office success and her portrayal earned widespread critical acclaim, including a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the Saturn Awards. This year, McGraw stars in “The Black Phone 2,” taking the lead in the highly anticipated sequel. Once again, her work has garnered strong praise, reinforcing her momentum as one of the most exciting up-and-coming young actors in the industry.
Park Chan-wook — Filmmaking Achievement Award
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook will receive this year’s Filmmaking Achievement Award in recognition of his visionary storytelling, boundary-pushing craft, and influential body of work. He won a BAFTA for his work on “The Handmaiden,” and has won multiple awards at the Cannes Film Festival including the Grand Prix for “Oldboy” in 2004, the Jury Prize for “Thirst” in 2009, and the Best Director Award for “Decision to Leave” in 2022.
From “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave” to his latest feature film, “No Other Choice,” Park continues to redefine cinematic filmmaking with storytelling that has sparked discussion all around the world.
Sharon Stone — Timeless Award
With a career spanning more than four decades and over 100 memorable performances, Sharon Stone will receive this year’s Timeless Award. Her film credits include “Basic Instinct” and “Casino,” for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1996 and received an Academy Award nomination. She also earned Golden Globe nominations for “The Mighty” and “The Muse.”
Some of her unforgettable performances include Catherine Tramell in “Basic Instinct,” Ginger McKenna in “Casino,” and Carly Norris in “Sliver.” Earlier this year, Stone took on the role of the villain Lendina in Bob Odenkirk’s action-revenge sequel “Nobody.”
“Bob Trevino Likes It” — Independent Spotlight Award
After winning both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, “Bob Trevino Likes It” has gone on to claim over 30 additional awards worldwide.
Written and directed by Tracie Laymon, the film draws inspiration from her real-life experience of a mistaken Facebook friendship. Starring Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, and Rachel Bay Jones, “Bob Trevino Likes It” embodies the true spirit of independent cinema and continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
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