Taraji P. Henson Encourages Artists To ‘Knock Down’ Walls, Sarah Finn Celebrates Casting Community & More At 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival Honors

Taraji P. Henson urged artists to use their influence to defend dignity and break down barriers, while casting director Sarah Finn highlighted the collaborative work of casting at the Newport Beach Film Festival’s 27th annual Festival Honors brunch. Their remarks centred on how creative work can create possibility and how artists and craftspeople help bring stories to life.

The 18 October event at Balboa Bay Resort recognised Henson with the Artist of Distinction Award and Finn with the Casting Visionary Award. Finn, drawing on nearly three decades in casting, credited her associates and assistants and accepted the honour on behalf of the wider casting community. The brunch also featured Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch discussing performances in independent, international and studio films, including Rosalind Eleazar on portraying a difficult character and Ruth Madeley on playing disability rights activist Judy Heumann.