Canadian director David Cronenberg, the master of stomach-churning body-horror classics, was to be honoured at San Sebastian film festival Wednesday for a lifetime of work examining the dark side of the soul.&nbsp;

The sci-fi shockmeister, whose films include 'The Fly', 'Dead Ringers' and 'Crash', was to receive the honorary Donostia award at a gala in the northern Spanish city.&nbsp;

Earlier on Wednesday, the 79-year-old -- whose latest film 'Crimes of the Future'&nbsp;is a dystopian tale about a future where people undergo surgical alterations for the sake of art and sexual pleasure -- said his work was not about seeking to push spectators to the limits but to push himself.

"It's like I go on a creative journey exploring myself, my relationship with the world. I invent things and see how it feels... do they reveal some truth, something interesting, something entertaining," he told reporters at the festival.

"And then I say to the audience: this is something I imagined, see what you think. So I'm not really trying to push the audience, I'm really pushing myself."

When the film, starring Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen, premiered at Cannes in May, it divided the audience, sending many queasy viewers running for the exits but also winning a seven-minute standing ovation.

It will be screened later on Wednesday in San Sebastian.&nbsp;

- 'The attraction of the forbidden' -

"The appeal of art is to the unconscious, to the parts of ourselves that are still primitive and destructive, so in that way, we as artists are exploring those things that are hidden, that are forbidden, that are not to be acted upon in society, but still need to be understood, and to be expressed," Cronenberg said.&nbsp;

"The attraction of cinema has always been what is forbidden, whether it's as simple as sex in a time of repression, when sex was not to be shown on the screen, to other more obscure kinds of impulses like the ones that you might see in 'Crimes of the Future'," he said.&nbsp;

Winning the Donostia award was an encouragement to keep making films, he said.

"I used to think if you got an award for your whole career, they were basically saying enough, stop making films but I now realise it's really to say: keep making films," he said.&nbsp;

"So I hope to commit more crimes in the future by making more films."

He said his next project was a film called 'The Shrouds&nbsp;starring Seydoux and Vincent Cassel which would begin shooting in Toronto in spring.

"It's a very personal project for me. People who know me will know what parts of it are autobiographical," he said.

Earlier this week, French actress Juliette Binoche was also honoured with a Donostia award for her acting career.&nbsp;

Canadian director David Cronenberg, the master of stomach-churning body-horror classics, was to be honoured at San Sebastian film festival Wednesday for a lifetime of work examining the dark side of the soul.

Canadian director David Cronenberg, the master of stomach-churning body-horror classics, was to be honoured at San Sebastian film festival Wednesday for a lifetime of work examining the dark side of the soul. The sci-fi shockmeister, whose films include 'The Fly', 'Dead Ringers' and 'Crash', was to receive the honorary Donostia award at a gala in the northern Spanish city. Earlier on Wednesday, the 79-year-old -- whose latest film 'Crimes of the Future' is a dystopian tale about a future where people undergo surgical alterations for the sake of art and sexual pleasure -- said his work was not about seeking to push spectators to the limits but to push himself. "It's like I go on a creative journey exploring myself, my relationship with the world. I invent things and see how it feels... do they reveal some truth, something interesting, something entertaining," he told reporters at the festival. "And then I say to the audience: this is something I imagined, see what you think. So I'm not really trying to push the audience, I'm really pushing myself." When the film, starring Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen, premiered at Cannes in May, it divided the audience, sending many queasy viewers running for the exits but also winning a seven-minute standing ovation. It will be screened later on Wednesday in San Sebastian. - 'The attraction of the forbidden' - "The appeal of art is to the unconscious, to the parts of ourselves that are still primitive and destructive, so in that way, we as artists are exploring those things that are hidden, that are forbidden, that are not to be acted upon in society, but still need to be understood, and to be expressed," Cronenberg said. "The attraction of cinema has always been what is forbidden, whether it's as simple as sex in a time of repression, when sex was not to be shown on the screen, to other more obscure kinds of impulses like the ones that you might see in 'Crimes of the Future'," he said. Winning the Donostia award was an encouragement to keep making films, he said. "I used to think if you got an award for your whole career, they were basically saying enough, stop making films but I now realise it's really to say: keep making films," he said. "So I hope to commit more crimes in the future by making more films." He said his next project was a film called 'The Shrouds starring Seydoux and Vincent Cassel which would begin shooting in Toronto in spring. "It's a very personal project for me. People who know me will know what parts of it are autobiographical," he said. Earlier this week, French actress Juliette Binoche was also honoured with a Donostia award for her acting career.

David Cronenberg honoured by San Sebastian film festival

'Blue moon', Romanian director Alina Grigore's first film, won the top prize at the San Sebastian festival Saturday, while Denmark's Tea Lindeburg another first-timer, took the best director for 'As In Heaven'.

The best leading performance accolade -- open for the first time to both sexes -- was shared by Denmark's Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl, who starred in 'As in Heaven'&nbsp;and American Jessica Chastain for her role in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'.

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Chastain, a two-time Oscar nominee, played the late Tammy Faye Bakker, wife of controversial TV evangelist Jim Bakker and also co-produced the film.

"I'm so honoured to share this award with Flora," said Chastain. "I hope the film reminds us to look beyond our first judgments," she added.

"I love what I do," said Hoffman Lindahl, who starred in 'As in Heaven,'&nbsp;set in the 19th century.

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"It was a unique and fantastic experience," Dane added of playing a 14-year-old, the eldest of her siblings and first in her family to go to school, whose plans radically are changed when her mother goes into labour.

The prize for best-supporting performance went to the cast of 'Quien lo impide'&nbsp;(Who's Stopping Us) while Terence Davies won the best screenplay jury award for 'Benediction'.&nbsp;

'Blue moon', Romanian director Alina Grigore's first film, won the top prize at the San Sebastian festival Saturday, while Denmark's Tea Lindeburg another first-timer, took the best director for 'As In Heaven'.

'Blue moon', Romanian director Alina Grigore's first film, won the top prize at the San Sebastian festival Saturday, while Denmark's Tea Lindeburg another first-timer, took the best director for 'As In Heaven'. The best leading performance accolade -- open for the first time to both sexes -- was shared by Denmark's Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl, who starred in 'As in Heaven' and American Jessica Chastain for her role in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'. 'Massively grateful' Daniel Craig bids farewell to James Bond Chastain, a two-time Oscar nominee, played the late Tammy Faye Bakker, wife of controversial TV evangelist Jim Bakker and also co-produced the film. "I'm so honoured to share this award with Flora," said Chastain. "I hope the film reminds us to look beyond our first judgments," she added. "I love what I do," said Hoffman Lindahl, who starred in 'As in Heaven,' set in the 19th century. The Starling review: Grief knows not what grief does "It was a unique and fantastic experience," Dane added of playing a 14-year-old, the eldest of her siblings and first in her family to go to school, whose plans radically are changed when her mother goes into labour. The prize for best-supporting performance went to the cast of 'Quien lo impide' (Who's Stopping Us) while Terence Davies won the best screenplay jury award for 'Benediction'.

'Blue Moon',  Jessica Chastain, among San Sebastian festival winners

This one is a controversial move. <a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-actor-johnny-depp-seeks-appeal-in-uk-wife-beater-libel-case-371272">Johnny Depp</a>, who received major backlash and lost some of his big projects due to his ongoing legal fight with ex-wife Amber Heard, is getting a big honour.&nbsp; 
 
Spain’s San Sebastian International Film Festival announced that they will honour Depp with its Donostia Award. The&nbsp;lifetime achievement honour recognizes “outstanding contributions to the film world.”&nbsp;

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-%E2%80%98aquaman-2%E2%80%99-johnny-depp-fans-demand-amber-heard-be-dropped-producers-say-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-401812" hreflang="en">‘Aquaman 2’: Johnny Depp fans demand Amber Heard be dropped, producers say ‘No!’</a> 
 
The award describes Depp as “one of contemporary cinema’s most talented and versatile actors.” Depp will receive his Donostia Award at the Kursaal Auditorium in San Sebastian on September 22. 
 
This will be Depp’s third visit to the festival following his appearance in 2020 for 'Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds' With Shane MacGowan, and a brief appearance in 1998. 
 
The actor follows in the footsteps of Viggo Mortensen, who was last year’s Donostia Award recipient. Previous winners have also included Antonio Banderas, Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins and Glenn Close. 
 
The&nbsp;news comes after Depp&nbsp;lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper who called him a “wife beater.” However, he continues to deny the assault allegations. &nbsp;Later, Depp's<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-johnny-depp%E2%80%99s-appeal-to-overturn-libel-ruling-shut-down-by-uk-court-373097"> appeal</a>&nbsp;against a High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard was denied.&nbsp;

This one is a controversial move. Johnny Depp, who received major backlash and lost some of his big projects due to his ongoing legal fight with ex-wife Amber Heard, is getting a big honour.

This one is a controversial move. Johnny Depp, who received major backlash and lost some of his big projects due to his ongoing legal fight with ex-wife Amber Heard, is getting a big honour. Spain’s San Sebastian International Film Festival announced that they will honour Depp with its Donostia Award. The lifetime achievement honour recognizes “outstanding contributions to the film world.” ‘Aquaman 2’: Johnny Depp fans demand Amber Heard be dropped, producers say ‘No!’ The award describes Depp as “one of contemporary cinema’s most talented and versatile actors.” Depp will receive his Donostia Award at the Kursaal Auditorium in San Sebastian on September 22. This will be Depp’s third visit to the festival following his appearance in 2020 for 'Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds' With Shane MacGowan, and a brief appearance in 1998. The actor follows in the footsteps of Viggo Mortensen, who was last year’s Donostia Award recipient. Previous winners have also included Antonio Banderas, Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins and Glenn Close. The news comes after Depp lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper who called him a “wife beater.” However, he continues to deny the assault allegations. Later, Depp's appeal against a High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard was denied.

Johnny Depp to receive San Sebastian Film Festival’s highest honour

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David Cronenberg honoured by San Sebastian film festival

'Blue Moon', Jessica Chastain, among San Sebastian festival winners

Johnny Depp to receive San Sebastian Film Festival’s highest honour