James Gray to Be Honored with Locarno Film Festival Career Award James Gray, one of America's most distinctive and idiosyncratic filmmakers, is set to receive a lifetime career award at this year's Locarno Film Festival.
The honor comes as no surprise given the esteem in which his peers hold him – but it also raises questions about the state of American cinema.
Gray's upbringing in New York's Russian Jewish community has left an indelible mark on his work, which often explores themes of identity, family, and the American Dream.