Ethan Hawke accepted the Variety Virtuoso Award at the Miami Film Festival on November 2, 2025, during his first visit to the city. In a discussion with Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh, the actor-producer shared insights into his career, including long-term partnerships with Richard Linklater and recent work with Taylor Swift. Hawke highlighted his extensive filmography and the joys of creative collaboration.
Award and Career Overview
Ethan Hawke's appearance at the Miami Film Festival marked a significant moment, as he received the Variety Virtuoso Award in recognition of his illustrious career. The event took place on November 2, 2025, at Miami-Dade College's Wolfson Auditorium, where Hawke fielded questions from the audience after his conversation. This year has been particularly busy for Hawke, with roles in Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon' generating awards buzz, a return as the Grabber in 'The Black Phone 2,' a starring turn in FX's 'The Lowdown,' directing a documentary on country singer Merle Haggard, and narrating Apple TV+'s 'Vietnam: The War That Changed America.'
Collaborations with Richard Linklater
Hawke's partnership with director Richard Linklater spans nine films, beginning with 'Before Sunrise' in 1995. He recalled being inspired by Linklater's early work like 'Slacker' and feeling an 'injustice' for not being in 'Dazed and Confused.' Their collaboration started after Linklater attended one of Hawke's plays, leading to late-night discussions and the script for 'Before Sunrise.' Hawke shared a story of improvising a key scene with co-star Julie Delpy, where he pitched his character as a time traveler to convince hers to leave the train—a moment that captured the film's improvisational charm. The duo later made sequels 'Before Sunset' (2003) and 'Before Midnight' (2013), as well as 'Boyhood' (2014), filmed over 12 years.
Experiences with Denzel Washington and Taylor Swift
Hawke described a 'scary' screen test for 'Training Day' (2001), where Denzel Washington improvised, challenging him to keep up. Drawing on his Linklater experience, Hawke earned an Oscar nomination for the role. More recently, he appeared in Taylor Swift's 'Fortnight' music video with Post Malone, thanks to his daughter Maya Hawke. 'That woman is incredible,' Hawke said of Swift, praising her directorial skills and comparing her Eras Tour to The Beatles' cultural impact. 'Someday people are going to write books about this moment,' he added.
Hawke emphasized living in the present, referencing Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris' to discuss nostalgia. Looking forward, he expressed eagerness for future projects: 'What’s next? Can I do something?'