Oscar-nominated Irish actor Colin Farrell will receive the Golden Icon Award at the Zurich Film Festival, which will take place from September 25 to October 5.

The award is in recognition of the actor's role in Edward Berger's psychological thriller "A Ballad for a Small Player" and his entire career.

Farrel will receive the award on September 27 before the gala premiere of the upcoming film, which will also be attended by Swiss director and Oscar winner Berger. The next day, Farrel will hold a master class on his career, Deadline reports.

The Irish-born actor is known worldwide for films such as Miami Vice, The Special Report, In Bruges, Batman, The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and The Banshees of Inisherin.

He follows in the footsteps of a long list of famous Golden Icon Award winners, including Kate Winslet, Jessica Chastain, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, and Hugh Grant.

"Ballad of a Small Player" is Berger's third consecutive film to be shown in Zurich after "Nothing New on the Western Front" and "Conclave." Berger also received the festival's prestigious "Tribute to..." award in 2024.

His new film is an adaptation of Lawrence Osborn's 2014 novel and is set in Macau. It tells the story of a gambler whose past and debts begin to haunt him, but while hiding in Macau, he meets a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his salvation.

"Colin Farrell is one of the most passionate and charismatic actors in auteur cinema," said festival director Christian Junger.

"He is as convincing in the role of a villain as he is in a romantic role, or in complex roles that lie somewhere in between, such as in Edward Berger's irresistible tragicomedy "Ballad of a Small Player," where Colin charms us as a rogue gambler and makes us sympathize with his character," he continued.

"Colin Farrell has already worked with many great directors, but under the direction of Edward Berger, he has truly reached new heights. He carries the film from start to finish and takes us on an emotional rollercoaster that makes us laugh, cry, and marvel. For this exceptional performance, which could earn him another Oscar nomination, and for his invaluable contribution to auteur cinema, we are awarding Colin Farrell the Golden Icon Award," Jung added.

Farrell welcomed the news of the award and said he was looking forward to visiting Zurich for the first time.

"I would like to thank the Zurich Film Festival for inviting 'The Ballad of a Small Player' to the festival and for the honor of awarding me the Golden Icon Award," he said.

"This will be my first time visiting the beautiful city of Zurich, and I am extremely excited to walk its streets, drink coffee, and mingle with the people. It is a great honor and lesson to have my years in film recognized by such a prestigious festival that supports films from all corners of the world. It will be a great pleasure to attend the festival later this year and we are excited to present Ballad of a Small Player to the audience there," he continued.

Farrell recently appeared in HBO's The Penguin, reprising his role as Oswald Cobblepot.

He has won numerous awards for his performance, including a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics' Choice Award.

He is currently filming the second season of Apple TV+'s "Sugar," where he reprises his role as private detective John Sugar. | BGNES