HOLLYWOOD, Calif., September 16, 2004 -- The Hollywood Film Festival's Board of Advisors is proud to announce that this year's festival will honor two-time Oscar®-nominated actor JOHN TRAVOLTA with the "Hollywood Lifetime Achievement Award," film distribution wizard BOB BERNEY with the "Hollywood Leadership Award," and talented first-timer, director Zach Braff with its "Hollywood Breakthrough Director of the Year Award."
The awards will be bestowed upon the honorees 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 Michael Mann for directing, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Dean Robert Rosen for film preservation, Jamie Foxx and Keira Knightley for acting, 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, and Debra Zane for casting The Hollywood Animation Award goes to "Shrek 2."
Says festival founder Carlos de Abreu, "John Travolta, Zach Braff and Bob Berney represent excellence in the art of acting, filmmaking and business, and their accomplishments, work, and ability are to be honored."
JOHN TRAVOLTA stars in the upcoming film "Ladder 49," as well as starring opposite Scarlett Johansson in "A Love Song for Bobby Long," which will have its U.S. Premiere at the Hollywood Film Festival. Most recently he starred in Jonathan Hensleigh's "The Punisher." John Travolta has been honored twice with Academy Award nominations, most recently for his portrayal of a philosophical hit man in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," in addition to other nominations and awards. He also won praise for playing the Mafioso turned movie producer in the comedy hit "Get Shorty," earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He won the distinguished Alan J. Pakula Award from the U.S. Broadcast Film Critics Association for his performance in "A Civil Action," and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in "Primary Colors" directed by Mike Nichols.
John Travolta earned his first Oscar® and Golden Globe nominations for his role in the blockbuster "Saturday Night Fever," which launched the disco phenomenon of the late 1970s. He went on to star in the big screen version of the long-running musical "Grease" and the wildly successful "Urban Cowboy," which also influenced trends in popular culture. Other film credits include the Brian De Palma thrillers "Carrie" and "Blow Out," as well as Amy Heckerling's hit comedy "Look Who's Talking." Other hit films include "Phenomenon," John Woo's top-grossing action thrillers "Broken Arrow" and "Face/Off," "Michael," "The General's Daughter," "Swordfish," "Domestic Disturbance," and "Battlefield Earth."
BOB BERNEY, president and partner of Newmarket Films, which was launched in August 2002, is considered to be a man with a magic and golden touch. Most recently, the company released Mel Gibson's record-breaking "The Passion of the Christ," which has earned more than $350 million at the box office; Patty Jenkins' critically acclaimed "Monster," which brought Charlize Theron a Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos; and "Whale Rider," for which 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes also earned a nomination for Best Actress. With more than two decades in distribution, Mr. Berney joined Newmarket Films after releasing
the box office phenomenon "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the critically acclaimed "Y Tu Mamá También" through IFC films. Bob Berney independently released "Memento" for the Newmarket Entertainment Group.
ZACH BRAFF made his feature film directorial and writing debut this year with the acclaimed "Garden State," from Fox Searchlight Pictures, in which he also stars. He is currently writing an adaptation of the children's book "Andrew Henry's Meadow" for Twentieth Century Fox, which he will also direct. A native of South Orange, New Jersey, Mr. Braff began acting as a child. His first role, when he was 14, was opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in a television pilot produced by her father, Bruce Paltrow. He went on to appear in the films "Getting to Know You" and Woody Allen's "Manhattan Murder Mystery," and co-starred in "The Broken Hearts Club." He is well-known to television viewers after several seasons as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian in NBC's "Scrubs."
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.
