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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Photos of the evening provided courtesy of William Moutrie
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Paradise Island, Bahamas – American film and television actor, Danny Glover was honoured with the
Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) Career Achievement Award last night, December 6th at the Atlantis Theater.
“Danny Glover is an extraordinary man whose accomplishments in
Hollywood are equaled by his humanitarian achievements,” said
Vanderpool in an press release announcing the award. “We’re honored to recognize his amazing career at the
Bahamas International Film Festival.”
During the evening remarks were given by the
Bahamas Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr. Daniel Johnson, as well as Leslie Vanderpool, Executive Director, BIFF.
Jeffrey Lyons, host of the TV show “Lyons Den”, moderated the evening’s conversation with Danny Glover.
Glover reflected on his acting role as Nelson Mandela. Glover said he was moved by the political writings of as a student in the 1960s and acknowledged he was
the only U.S. actor who portrayed him in a film before the publication
of his biography and release from prison in 1990.
"There's a great deal that comes back over a period of time, those
great moments when you thought you were doing something of value, and
that the work you were doing as an artist was changing the world,"
Glover said.
"I think this is particularly special because it comes the day after the
transition of someone who I never in my lifetime thought I would get
the chance to meet, and someone who became a friend. He used to
affectionately call me, 'Danny boy'," Glover recalled. "It allows you
... to reflect on this absolutely wonderful opportunity I've had, what
are the elements that went into that, to not only allow me to be the
artist I've hopefully grown to be, but also the human being and the
citizen, which is much more important."
Actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding
presence on screen, stage and television for more than 25 years. As an
actor, 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 addition to
his film work, Glover is highly sought after as a public speaker,
delivering inspiring addresses and moving performances in such diverse
venues as college campuses, union rallies and business conventions.
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 UNICEF
Ambassador.
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. Among the films
Glover has executive produced at Louverture are: the César-nominated
Bamako, Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Oscarâ and Emmyâ nominated Trouble
The Water, the award winning The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, and the
2012 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The House I Live In. He has also
associate produced Elia Suleiman’s The Time That Remains, and the 2010
Cannes Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
A native of San Francisco, Glover trained at the Black Actors’ Workshop
of the American Conservatory Theatre. It was his Broadway debut in
Fugard’s Master Harold…and the Boys that brought him to national
recognition and led director Robert Benton to cast him in his first
leading role in 1984’s Academy Award-nominated Best Picture, Places in
the Heart. The following year Glover starred in two more Best Picture
nominated films: Peter Weir’s Witness and Steven Spielberg’s The Color
Purple. In 1987 Glover partnered with Mel Gibson in the first Lethal
Weapon film and went on the star in three hugely successful Lethal
Weapon sequels. Glover has also invested his talents in more personal
projects including the award-winning To Sleep With Anger which he
executive produced and for which he won and Independent Spirit Award for
Best Actor; Bopha!¸Manderlay, Missing in America and the film version
of Athol Fugard’s play Boseman and Lena. He also starred in The Royal
Tenenbaums, Saw, Shooter, and Death at a Funeral.
On the small screen, Glover won an Image Award, a Cable ACE Award and
earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the title role of the
HBO Movie Mandela. He has also received Emmy nominations for his work
in the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove, the telefilm Freedom Song and
as a director he earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Showtime’s Just a
Dream. Most recently, Glover was a co-star on the popular television
series Touch, and will appear in the upcoming HBO Original Movie
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight.
Celebrating its 10th year, the Bahamas International Film Festival has
established itself as a marquee international Festival in the Caribbean
region, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from
around the world and showcasing a diverse array of international films.
BIFF 2013 will close on Sunday, December 8th with the Bahamian film,
"Black Moses" starring Dennis Haysbert, who has confirmed he will be in
attendance.
More information on the festival here:
www.bintlfilmfest.com
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© Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly.com
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