Ridley Scott will receive the Directors Guild of America’s top honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction.
“Masterful in any genre, Ridley’s groundbreaking methods and peerless directing instincts have brought to life some of the most memorable films of our time, capturing the resilience of the human spirit and captivating the hearts and minds of audiences around the world,” said Paris Barclay, president of the DGA. “Stunning visuals, immersive worlds and powerful performances underpin his diverse body of work which ranges from Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise to Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and, most recently, The Martian. Over the course of four decades, his trailblazing career has demonstrated the impact and importance of the director’s singular vision. For these reasons, and so many more, we are honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award in feature film to Ridley Scott.”
The Award will be presented at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The DGA Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the present and past presidents of the Guild. In the Guild’s 80-year history, just 34 directors have been recognized with this honor including: Cecil B. DeMille (1953), Frank Capra (1959), Alfred Hitchcock (1968), Orson Welles (1984), Billy Wilder (1985), Steven Spielberg (2000), Martin Scorsese (2003), and most recently Miloš Forman (2013).
Scott is a world-renowned director whose films have earned countless accolades. He was honored with DGA and Academy Award Best Director nominations for his work on Black Hawk Down (2001), Gladiator (2000) and Thelma & Louise (1991)–as well as a DGA Award nomination for his most recent film, The Martian (2015). His films have also garnered numerous Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards and nominations across multiple categories.
In 1977 Scott made his feature-film directorial debut with The Duellists, for which he won the Best First Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. He followed with the blockbuster science-fiction thriller Alien. In 1982 Scott directed the landmark film Blade Runner. Considered a sci-fi classic, the futuristic thriller was added to the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1993 and a director’s cut was released to renewed acclaim in 1993 and again in 2007.
Additional film credits as director include: Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Counselor, Prometheus, Legend, Someone to Watch Over Me, Black Rain, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, White Squall, G.I. Jane, Hannibal, Body of Lies, A Good Year, Kingdom of Heaven, Matchstick Men, and Robin Hood – which marked his fifth collaboration with star Russell Crowe.
Scott is currently in postproduction on Alien: Covenant, the sequel to Prometheus and will next helm Wraiths of the Broken Land.
A powerful force in film and television for many years, Scott began his directing career in advertising, and has directed numerous well-known spots including Apple’s famous “1984” commercial. He and his late brother Tony formed the commercial production company RSA in 1967, which today has an established reputation for creating innovative and groundbreaking commercials for some of the world’s most recognized corporate brands.
In 1995 the Scott brothers formed the film and television production company Scott Free. With offices in Los Angeles and London, the Scotts produced such films as In Her Shoes, The A-Team, Cyrus, The Grey and the Academy Award-nominated drama The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. On television, Scott executive produced the Emmy, Peabody and Golden Globe-winning hit The Good Wife for CBS and the critically acclaimed series adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic The Man in the High Castle for Amazon.
Scott has also been an executive producer on the company’s long-form projects, including the Starz miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, the A&E miniseries The Andromeda Strain, the TNT miniseries The Company, the award-winning HBO movies RKO 281, The Gathering Storm, and Into the Storm and the hit National Geographic Channels’ telefilms Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, and Killing Jesus.
In 2003 Scott was awarded a knighthood from the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his contributions to the arts. He received the 30th American Cinematheque Award at the organization’s annual gala in 2016.
Scott will join the following past recipients of the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award:
Miloš Forman (2013)
Norman Jewison (2010)
Clint Eastwood (2006)
Mike Nichols (2004)
Martin Scorsese (2003)
Steven Spielberg (2000)
Francis Ford Coppola (1998)
Stanley Kubrick (1997)
Woody Allen (1996)
James Ivory (1995)
Robert Altman (1994)
Sidney Lumet (1993)
Akira Kurosawa (1992)
Ingmar Bergman (1990)
Robert E. Wise (1988)
Elia Kazan (1987)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1986)
Billy Wilder (1985)
Orson Welles (1984)
John Huston (1983)
Rouben Mamoulian (1982)
George Cukor (1981)
William A. Wellman (1973)
David Lean (1973)
Fred Zinnemann (1970)
Alfred Hitchcock (1968)
William Wyler (1966)
Frank Borzage (1961)
George Stevens (1960)
Frank Capra (1959)
King Vidor (1957)
Henry King (1956)
John Ford (1954)
Cecil B. DeMille (1953)
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More