The San Francisco Film Societyannounced today that Kenneth Branagh will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 19 – May 3). The FDA will be presented to Branagh at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 26 at the historic Warfield Theatre.

The back of Ken’s head, talking to George Clooney at the Oscars.

Best supporting actor
Will win: Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
Should win: Kenneth Branagh
- The Guardian Film blog plumping Ken to win (& believing he should!) at the Oscars.

(Source: Guardian)

SAG Red Carpet

Meanwhile, at the Screen Actors Guild awards on Sunday, while packs of fans who had spent the afternoon practicing their screams on cue chanted, “George, George, George!” when George Clooney arrived to sign autographs, we spoke to our awards season crush, Kenneth Branagh. An Oscar nominee for his turn as Laurence Olivier in “My Week With Marilyn,” he discussed the taxonomy of the red carpet, and how to survive it.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kenneth Branagh and Viola Davis hit the red carpet for the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles. (Jan. 30)

(Ken is at 0:24)

vulgarians:

Ken wins Best Supporting Actor at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards (01/19/2012)

Just to recap…

Ken’s been nominated for a SAG Award and a Golden Globe. I hear the Oscars a’knockin’.

Life is surreal and beautiful,” the 51-year-old said. “My wife nudged me this morning and said ‘Darling, the phone is ringing.’ We’re both fairly jet-lagged, but this feels like Christmas morning.
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn — outstanding supporting actor in a film: “I am so grateful to the Screen Actors Guild for recognising my work, and that of the extraordinary cast and especially the remarkable performance of Michelle Williams. Laurence Olivier set a standard for artists. To play him was a great honour, and for the performance to be acknowledged by my fellow actors is especially meaningful to me. I feel very lucky and very proud to be an actor.