Julianne Moore to receive lifetime achievement award at Rome Film Festival

Julianne Moore is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Rome Film Festival, where she will attend the Italian premiere of Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut.

The honour was announced by Salvatore Nastasi, president of Fondazione Cinema per Roma, which oversees the festival. Eisenberg, who directed and wrote The Debut, will present the award to Moore during the event.

The ceremony will form part of the festival's programme, which runs from October 13 to 25. The official Rome Film Festival programme lists The Debut as a 2026 US production directed by Eisenberg, with Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey and Eisenberg among its cast.

In The Debut, Moore plays Mona Friedman, a middle aged New Jersey housewife who takes a small role in a community theatre production. Her involvement with the production grows increasingly intense as she becomes deeply committed to her character and clashes with the show's demanding director, played by Giamatti. The film has been presented as a comedy drama with musical elements.

The film marks Moore's second collaboration with Eisenberg after his 2022 directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World. The Debut is Eisenberg's third feature as a director.

Moore's performance has already attracted attention during the film's festival run. The Debut screened in the official selection at the San Sebastián Film Festival, where Moore appeared alongside Eisenberg and other members of the cast.

The actress has previously received numerous major film honours, including the Academy Award for best actress for Still Alice. She has also received Oscar nominations for Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours and Far from Heaven.

The Rome Film Festival award adds another career honour for Moore as The Debut continues its international festival screenings ahead of its wider release. The film is also scheduled for screenings at the New York Film Festival and other 2026 festivals.