The 19th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) is proud to announce that it will honor iconic Hollywood film veteran and producer Mike Medavoy (“Black Swan,” “Zodiac,” “Miss Potter,” “Shutter Island”) with its Legends Award at this year’s Awards Gala. His lustrous career spans more than five decades—from agent to studio chief to producer, Medavoy has been involved with more than 300 feature films, of which 17 have been nominated and seven have won Best Picture Oscars, including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Rocky,” “Apocalypse Now” and “Raging Bull.” In 1978, he co-founded Orion Pictures. More recently, he was an executive producer on Nat Geo’s “The Long Road Home.”
The fest is presenting its 2019 line-up of 130 competition films and kicks-off on Wednesday, April 3rd, with the Opening Night Official Red Carpet event at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres (6925 Hollywood Boulevard). For five days, the BHFF hosts red carpet premieres, networking events, panel discussions and after-parties, culminating in the annual Closing Awards Ceremony and Gala held at the landmark Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Boulevard), on Sunday, April 7th.
Festival president, Nino Simone, says, “If our incredible international 2019 line-up is an indicator of things to come, we’re going to have a stellar 20th Anniversary next year! This year’s fest is proud to have documentaries on Stanley Kubrick, Peter Sellers, Douglas Fairbanks and Sacheen Littlefeather—who made history in 1973 when she represented Marlon Brando to decline his Best Actor Oscar, in protest of Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans. We also have a record number of Premieres programmed—from established celebrities like Rosario Dawson, Jeff Daniels and two-time Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga who just won for “Green Book” to an impressive array of first-time directors! And it’s our greatest honor to be presenting the BHFF Legends Award to one of my personal film heroes, producer Mike Medavoy!”
The BHFF Legends Award has only been presented a handful of times in 19 years of running the festival. BHFF takes great pride in honoring inspirational pioneers that have deeply impacted film and the entertainment industry. In 2019, the Legends Award will be presented to legendary film producer Mike Medavoy at the Closing Awards Ceremony and Gala.
Simone adds, “Medavoy’s stamp on cinema is iconic in every sense of the word, and it is the festival’s deepest honor to pay tribute to his legacy that continues to impact millions of people around the globe.”
Past recipients of the BHFF Legends Award include: cinematographer Haskell Wexler, actor Jon Voight, actress Ann Archer, producer Frank Yablans, and “Rat Pack” photographer Phil Stern.
BHFF Jury members this year include: Jury president, the award-winning producer Frederico Lapenda; Oscar-winning producer Arnold Schwartzman; Roberta Augusto, VP of Marketing, Distribution & Publicity at IDC, a Lionsgate Company; executive producer and international distribution executive Carolina Vianna (Netflix, Sony Pictures Television, MTV Networks); actress/supermodel/activist Kelly Le Brock; and global entertainment, marketing, retail and licensing executive, Gil Champion, (BAFTA member, POW! Entertainment, partnered with the late Stan Lee), producer Egil Odegard (former VP of Federation of Norwegian Film Society); producer Barbara Montana (Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Odyssey Media; and marketing strategist Gary Shapiro (former senior VP marketing, Sony Pictures, and a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).
The BHFF Jury judges for the following categories: Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories); Best Feature; Best Documentary; Best Short Film; Best Director of Photography; Best Editor; and the Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award. Audience Choice Awards include Best Feature; Best Documentary; Best Short Film; Best Director; Best Male Performance; Best Female Performance; Best Producer; Best Screenplay; and Best Animation.
The annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival was founded in 2001 by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone. The 19th annual event, taking place from April 3 through 7, 2019, is dedicated to showcasing and promoting non-studio films to the entertainment industry. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema with Hollywood, the festival hosts world-class screenings, networking events and industry seminars.
Tickets are available on the fest site. Prices range from $17.00 per screening to $550.00 for a Platinum Pass. For a complete festival line-up, schedule and pricing, please visit beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com or beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com/box-office.
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