Sedona International Film Festival Honors Jeremy Piven with Prestigious Award

Jeremy Piven, the Emmy-winning actor famed for his role as Ari Gold in “Entourage,” received a Career Achievement Award at the Sedona International Film Festival on February 27. The accolade came after a screening of his latest film, “The Performance,” adapted from Arthur Miller’s 2002 short story.

“This is the best role of my life,” Piven remarked, addressing the audience. He emphasized a deep connection to his character, stating, “I felt like I was doing a documentary.” Directed by his sister Shira Piven, the film stars Piven as Harold May, an American Jewish tap dancer who enters a dark bargain with a Nazi attache, played by Robert Carlyle.

The film’s synopsis outlines a tense situation where Harold’s troupe performs for none other than Adolf Hitler, igniting a dramatic struggle for survival. “As the curtain rises, they discover their audience’s true identity,” the synopsis explained. Trapped in a precarious situation, Harold faces the dilemma of either entertaining the dictator or risking their freedom.

Piven attributed his connection to the project to his mother, Joyce Piven, an actress and co-founder of the Compass Players. She introduced him and Shira to Miller’s story, saying, “There’s something in here for you.” After securing the rights from Arthur Miller’s daughter, Rebecca, Piven pursued the project for 15 years, enduring skepticism along the way. “They’d say, ‘You’re too old to do this role,’” he recounted humorously.

It took a decade to secure financing for the film, during which time Piven honed his tap dancing skills, drawing from his background as a drummer. “To play the drums with your feet is the hardest thing in the world,” he noted. The film’s reception has been potent, with critics labeling his performance as “career defining.” Piven asserted, “I didn’t disappear into the role. I reappeared.”

Describing a painful moment during filming, Piven recounted breaking his ribs while shooting an action scene. “I was like, oh, they’re broken, and I can’t breathe,” he shared. Despite the injury, he pressed on, attributing his perseverance to an empowering sense of resilience.

Piven sees parallels between his character and himself, particularly in their shared mission as artists seeking an audience. He is still in search of a distributor for “The Performance.”

The festival also showcased Piven in “Sweetwater,” a 2023 film that highlights Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American to join the NBA. Directed by Martin Guigui, the film took nearly three decades to come to fruition, requiring 60 script rewrites. Guigui praised lead actor Everett Osborne, emphasizing the authenticity he brought to the role without relying on stunt doubles.

“The purity of his performance was remarkable,” Guigui said. Overall, both films present poignant narratives, reflecting the ongoing struggle artists face in pursuit of their craft.