James Gray wins Career Leopard award at Locarno

American filmmaker James Gray received the Career Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival on Wednesday, but not before reminding his wife to take out the trash.

Gray, 54, accepted the prestigious award from the Swiss festival—one of Europe’s oldest—just hours before an outdoor screening of his latest film, *Paper Tigers*. The U.S. auteur used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to the Beatles and reflect on his legacy. “I have many good films, hopefully, left,” he said, signaling both gratitude and ambition in equal measure. The Career Leopard is rarely given to a director in their 50s; Gray joins a small group that includes Jane Campion and Alexander Sokurov, filmmakers whose later works have redefined their careers.

The honor caps a turbulent but defining period for Gray. After departing Warner Bros. in 2022 amid creative differences over his long-in-development *Ad Astra* sequel, he pivoted to independent financing and international co-productions. *Paper Tigers*, a semi-autobiographical drama about a filmmaker grappling with personal and professional collapse, mirrors his own recent struggles. Critics at Locarno called it raw and introspective—qualities that have defined Gray’s best work, from *The Yards* to *Two Lovers*. The festival’s decision to honor him now suggests a recognition of his uncompromising voice at a time when Hollywood prioritizes franchise films over personal storytelling.

Gray’s path to Locarno was not straightforward. He spent years developing *Ad Astra 2* with Sony, only to walk away when studio notes demanded a lighter, more commercial tone. Instead, he turned to European backing and completed *Paper Tigers* in 13 months—a pace that surprised even his collaborators. Now, with the Career Leopard in hand, Gray may find new momentum. He has two projects in active development: a remake of *The Night of the Hunter* and a long-gestating adaptation of Dostoevsky’s *The Idiot*. Whether he returns to Hollywood or continues as a maverick auteur, one thing is clear: Gray is not slowing down. And if his wife’s reminder about the trash is any indication, even artists with global accolades still have domestic realities to manage.