John Legend, Alden Ehrenreich, And Aja Naomi King Make Variety‘s 10 Actors To Watch List

Variety recently released its annual list of 10 Actors to Watch. The up-and-coming actors will be celebrated in the October 4th issue of Variety, and once again the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) has teamed up with the publication to present Actors to Watch during HIFF, which runs Thursday, October 6th through Monday, October 10th.

Aja Naomi King stars in ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder. (Photo: David Crotty/ PMC)

“The Hamptons International Film Festival has had the privilege of honoring rising talent for over 15 years,” explained David Nugent, HIFF Artistic Director. “We are thrilled to once again partner with Variety to recognize this group of ten diverse, talented actors for the incredible work they have done in their careers.”

Alden Ehrenreich is the new Han Solo. (Photo: Nina Prommer/PMC)

The prestigious group of former honorees includes Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Brie Larson, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Shannon and Melissa Leo. “As we have seen our previous honorees blossom over the years, with just this year Brie Larson and Alicia Vikander both taking home Academy Awards, we know this class has a bright future ahead of them,” added Nugent.

This marks the fifth year that Variety has joined forces with HIFF to commemorate rising stars in the film industry. “As the fall film awards season approaches, there may be questions about which films will ultimately shine as prize winners, but there is no doubt that once again this year’s releases feature astounding new talents filled with creative courage and unlimited ‎potential for bright careers,” said Vice President/Executive Editor of Variety Steven Gaydos. “I can’t think of a better place to celebrate their achievements than the prestigious Hamptons International Film Festival.”

This year’s 10 Actors to Watch highlight Riz Ahmed (Jason Bourne, HBO’s The Night Of, Una and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Netflix’s Luke Cage), Rachel Brosnahan (Woody Allen’s new Amazon series, Patriots Day and Boomtown), Ana de Armas (War Dogs, Hands of Stone, and Blade Runner), Alden Ehrenreich (the new Han Solo, Hail, Caesar!, Warren Beatty’s Rules Don’t Apply and The Yellow Birds), Lucas Hedges (Manchester By the Sea and Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Aja Naomi King (ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder and Sundance’s The Birth of a Nation), Tavi Gevinson (founder of Rookie Magazine, Enough Said, Human People, The Crucible on Broadway and The Cherry Orchard on Broadway), Kara Hayward (Moonrise Kingdom, Manchester By the Sea and Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson), and Oscar-winning songwriter John Legend, who will launch his film career alongside Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in La La Land.

Ana de Armas stars in Hands of Stone. (Photo: Jimi Celeste/PMC)

For those who plan on packing in film after film during HIFF, the 2016 Founder Pass is currently discounted 10 percent through Labor Day.

For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.