Two “Straight Outta Compton” Stars Named To “Variety’s” 10 Actors to Watch

Once again, the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is teaming up with Variety to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming actors, as part of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch.

Bel Powley. (Photo: Clint Spaulding/PatrickMcMullan.com)

“Actors to watch turn up in edgy little indies, studio blockbusters and from all corners of the world,” said Variety’s VP and executive editor Steven Gaydos. “You’ll see some of these actors in upcoming Awards Season films and you will have seen some of them in current summer hits. We feel they all have one thing in common: uncommonly bright futures.”

This marks the fourth year that Variety has joined forces with HIFF to present Actors to Watch, a list that Variety has been carefully curating since 1998.

“The Hamptons International Film Festival is delighted to partner with Variety again in highlighting the work of these actors whose work thus far promises bright futures ahead,” said David Nugent, HIFF Artistic Director. “We have a long history of celebrating the next wave of acting talent at early stages of their career including Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Adam Driver, David Oyelowo and this year’s group is amongst the best we’ve had.”

Thomas Mann. (Photo: Daniel Torok/PatrickMcMullan.com)

This year’s 10 Actors to Watch include Christopher Abbott (“James White,” “Criminal Activities,” and “Fun House”), Bel Powley (“Diary of a Teenage Girl,” Drake Doremus’ “Equals,” and “Carrie Pilby”), Emory Cohen (“The Place Beyond the Pines,” “Beneath the Harvest Sky,” and “Brooklyn”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,” Stephen Frears’ “Florence Foster Jenkins,” and “The Girl on the Train”), Thomas Mann (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Some Freaks,” and “The Preppie Connection”), Jason Mitchell (“Straight Outta Compton” and “Keanu”), Maika Monroe (“The Guest,” “It Follows,” and “Independence Day: Resurgence”), Keith Stanfield (“Straight Outta Compton,” “Short Term 12,” Oliver Stone’s “Snowden”), Tessa Thompson (“Selma,” “Creed,” and “War On Everyone”), and Jessie Usher (“Survivor’s Remorse” and “Independence Day: Resurgence”).

The 2015 honorees will be celebrated in the October 6th issue of Variety, as well as during the Hamptons International Film Festival, which runs Thursday, October 8th through Monday, October 12th.

For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.