by Michelle Paster
AFI FEST Daily News

Tribute to Penélope Cruz during AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi, at ArcLight Hollywood Cinerama Dome, November 2. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images.)

Penélope Cruz received this year's Tribute from AFI FEST presented by Audi.

Pedro Almodóvar's acclaimed new film VOLVER - starring Cruz - premiered immediately following the Tribute on Thursday night. The event at ArcLight Hollywood's Cinerama Dome was supported by Skirball Cultural Center.

Penélope Cruz at AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi, November 2. (Photo by Chad Buchanan, Getty Images.)

The Tribute was a celebration of Cruz's career, with lively onstage conversation hosted by Kenneth Turan, film critic, The Los Angeles Times, as well as film clips and visits from special friends.

"I could talk about her non-stop for a couple of weeks," explained actress and producer Salma Hayek, Cruz's co-star in BANDIDAS (2006), from the podium. "She's been a tremendous inspiration to me."

Actresses Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek arrive at the Tribute to Penélope Cruz during AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi, ArcLight Hollywood, November 2. (Photo by Chad Buchanan, Getty Images.)

Hayek added: "She is a walking Pedro Almodóvar character."

Actress Eva Mendes presented a clip from Almodóvar's ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (1999), saying to Cruz: "You make me very proud to be a Latina in Hollywood."

Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, the distributor releasing VOLVER, introduced a clip of Cruz in the French film, BELLE ÉPOQUE.

Cruz acts in "Spanish, in English, in Italian," Barker remarked. "And there's even one in there in German."

When Cruz came to Los Angeles, Barker also recalled, "We introduced her to Clint Eastwood and he spoke Spanish to her and Penelope said 'I like this place.'"

Penélope Cruz at AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi, November 2. (Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images)

Jonathan Estrin, executive vice president of the American Film Institute (AFI), referred to Cruz as "dynamic and fearless." Estrin recalled the AFI FEST 2004 Tribute to filmmaker Almod—var, who directed Cruz in three films.