HOLLYWOOD, Calif., September 14, 2004 -- The Hollywood Film Festival's
Board of Advisors is proud to announce that this year's festival will
honor Oscar(r)-nominated director MICHAEL MANN with its
"Hollywood Director of the Year Award®."
The award will be bestowed upon Mr. Mann as part of the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on Monday evening, October 18, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Other industry professionals who will be honored for their achievements at the Gala Awards Ceremony are UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Dean Robert Rosen for film preservation, John Logan for screenwriting, Caleb Deschanel for cinematography, Sally Menke for editing, Thomas Newman for film composing, John Dykstra for visual effects, Albert Wolsky for costume design, Stuart Craig for production design, Ve Neill for make-up, Debra Zane for casting, and DreamWorks' "Shrek 2" for animation. In addition, Jamie Foxx and Keira Knightley will be honored with the festival's Breakthrough Acting awards.
"Mr. Mann has demonstrated extraordinary ability throughout his career. He is an excellent example of a highly talented professional whose work and creative vision are to be honored," festival founder Carlos de Abreu said.
MICHAEL MANN has earned numerous honors for his work as a director, writer, and producer, including three Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the drama "The Insider," starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. In addition, he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Director, was acknowledged by his peers with Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, and Producers Guild of America Award nominations for his work on the film, and, along with Eric Roth, was honored by the WGA with the prestigious Paul Selvin award.
Most recently, Mr. Mann has received accolades for his thriller "Collateral," starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, and he is a producer in the upcoming Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator," directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He is also in development as director on the World War II drama, "The Few," to star Tom Cruise. Prior to "Collateral," Mr. Mann directed, produced and co-wrote the screenplay for "Ali," the biopic of boxing legend Mohammed Ali, starring Will Smith and Jamie Foxx.
Mr. Mann made his feature film debut with "Thief " (1981), starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, and James Belushi. He also wrote the screenplay for the film and executive produced it. He then wrote and directed the gothic horror film "The Keep," starring Gabriel Byrne, Scott Glenn, and Ian McKellan. In 1986, he brought Dr. Hannibal Lecter to the screen in "Manhunter," and in 1991, he directed, co-wrote, and produced "The Last of the Mohicans," starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe. In 1995, he directed and produced the crime story "Heat," starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, and Ashley Judd.
Mr. Mann has also had a prolific career in television. In the 1970s, he wrote for such series as "Starsky and Hutch" and "Police Story," in addition to creating "Vega$." In 1979, he co-wrote and directed his first television movie, "The Jericho Mile," starring Peter Strauss, for which he won an Emmy for Best Screenplay and a DGA Award for Best Director. Throughout his career he has continued to create groundbreaking television. He launched and was the executive producer of the landmark series "Miami Vice," created by Tony Yerkovich, which was followed by the acclaimed series "Crime Story." He also received an Emmy Award for the miniseries "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story," which he produced, and another Emmy nomination for the sequel, "Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel."
The 2004 Annual Hollywood Film Festival, which will take place from October 12 to 18, incorporates in its activities the HOLLYWOOD FILM CONFERENCE, HOLLYWOOD FILM SCREENINGS, and HOLLYWOOD FILM AWARDS. The screenings and conference will take place at the Arclight Theatres in Hollywood. The Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony will take place at
the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Monday, October 18.
