Montreal, May 30, 2013 – Hollywood legend and political activist DANNY GLOVER will receive the Montreal International Black Film Festival’s 2013 HUMANITARIAN AWARD on Opening Night, Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at Cinéma Impérial. The MIBFF is granting Glover this award “for his amazing contributions as an activist and humanitarian as well as for his incredible selfless and dedicated efforts in addressing injustice and inequality in the world. His constant fight for human rights has allowed people from around the world to believe, hope, break down barriers and achieve great things.”
“It is a tremendous honour and a real privilege for all of us to welcome the living legend, Danny Glover, to Montreal and to honour him with the Montreal International Black Film Festival’s 2013 Humanitarian Award. By giving him this Award, we hope to shed light on his great humanitarian work and also share his great legacy to a whole new generation that so desperately needs to be inspired. It is also an excellent way for us to recognize the true value of his spirit that goes far beyond the Award-winning movie star everyone has come to know,” said Fabienne Colas, president and founder of the MIBFF.
“The Montreal International Black Film Festival is more than just a festival. It exposes viewers to international Black realities through cinema and other forms of expression. We want the festival to be a place of inspiration, motivation and development both professionally and personally,” stated Emile Castonguay, Programming Director and co-founder of the Festival.
The Montreal International Black Film Festival 2012 Humanitarian Award was given to Legendary singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte.
DANNY GLOVER – BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 25 years. A native of San Francisco, he attended San Francisco State University and received his dramatic training at the American Conservatory Theatre’s Black Actors’ Workshop. He gained his first major success in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg. A versatile actor, Glover has played villains and heroes in all types of films. His film credits range from the blockbuster Lethal Weapon franchise to smaller independent features, some of which Glover also produced. In recent years he has starred in an array of motion pictures including the critically-acclaimed Dreamgirls directed by Bill Condon and in the futuristic 2012 for director Roland Emmerich. In 2005 Glover co-founded NY based Louverture Films with writer/producer Joslyn Barnes. The company is dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity.
Glover has gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts, with a particular emphasis on advocacy for economic justice and access to health care and education programs in the United States and Africa. For these efforts Glover received a 2006 DGA Honor and was honored with a 2011 “Pioneer Award” from the National Civil Rights Museum. Internationally Glover has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program from 1998-2004, focusing on issues of poverty, disease and economic development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Glover was presented in 2011 with the prestigious Medaille des Arts et des Letters from the French Ministry of Culture and was honored with a Tribute at the Deauville International Film Festival. Currently Glover serves as a UNICEF Ambassador.
The 9th annual Montreal International Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, will take place from September 18 to 29, 2013, and is brought to you by Global Montreal!
Get festival news on:
www.montrealblackfilm.com / www.facebook.com/blackfilmfestival / www.twitter.com/filmblackmtl
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Programming Coordinator:
Joyce Fuerza:
joyce@montrealblackfilm.com
(514) 882-3334
Director of media relations:
Carla Beauvais
carla@montrealblackfilm.com
(514) 690-5450
