Katherine LaNasa to Receive Variety Virtuoso Award at Bentonville Film Festival

Variety will present Katherine with the Variety Virtuoso Award at Bentonville Film Festival on Saturday, June 20. The award will be for her career achievements across film and television, most recently starring in the hit HBO Max series “The Pitt,” for which she won the Emmy and Critics Choice Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The 12th annual Bentonville Film Festival is scheduled for June 15–21, and will continue its tradition of celebrating creativity, community and the power of film.

LaNasa will participate in a Q&A about her work with Variety deputy editor Carole Horst. “Katherine LaNasa is one of those performers who brings a magnetic energy to every role she takes on,” said Horst about the Emmy-winner. “Her work on the ‘The Pitt’ as charge nurse Dana has made this talented veteran actress a household name, and she continues to captivate audiences with her versatility, charisma and depth. Variety is thrilled to celebrate her impressive body of work and her future roles — although we remain obsessed with ‘The Pitt’ for now!”

LaNasa’s filmography includes leading roles in “The Campaign,” “Jayne Mansfield’s Car,” “Valentine’s Day,” “The Lucky Ones,” “Alfie” and “Schizopolis.” On television, recent series regular roles include the Apple TV drama “Truth Be Told,” Bravo/Netflix’s “Imposters” and CW’s “Katy Keene.” Other notable credits include “Seinfeld,” “E.R.,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Two and A Half Men,” “Future Man,” “Big Love,” “Justified,” “Longmire” and “Daredevil: Born Again.” Coming up, LaNasa will appear in the Hulu limited series “Count My Lies” alongside Shailene Woodley, Lindsay Lohan and Kit Harington.

“Katherine LaNasa has built a remarkable career defined by versatility, authenticity, and unforgettable performances across film and television,” said Bentonville Film Festival Chair Geena Davis. “Whether bringing emotional depth, sharp wit, or commanding presence to the screen, she continually elevates every project she is part of. We are thrilled to be partnering with Variety again to honor Katherine with the Virtuoso Award in recognition of her outstanding talent and enduring contributions to storytelling.”

The 2026 Bentonville Film Festival will feature a dynamic lineup of narrative, documentary, homegrown, short film, and episodic programming, including five World Premieres. The Festival opens June 16 with Family Movie, the genre-bending horror-comedy from Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who will attend for a post-screening conversation, and closes June 21 with a special screening of Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie featuring a Q&A with showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine and stars Crosby Fitzgerald and Alyssa Wapanatâhk. This year’s Centerpiece selection is the World Premiere of Catherine Hardwicke’s Street Smart, starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Yara Shahidi, Michael Cimino, and Marcia Gay Harden. The Festival will also spotlight acclaimed documentaries, exciting new discoveries, and signature “Coffee Talk” conversations with Bobby Flay, Ree Drummond, and Chef JJ Johnson.