The Academy announced June 3 that its Board of Governors voted to present honorary awards to David Lynch, Wes Studi and Lina Wertmüller, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Geena Davis.
The honorary award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.” The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, is given “to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.” The four Oscar statuettes will be presented at the Academy’s 11th annual Governors Awards on Oct. 27 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center.
“These Governors Awards given by the Academy each year recognize individuals who have devoted themselves to a lifetime of artistic accomplishment and brought outstanding contributions to our industry and beyond,” Academy President John Bailey said. “It is with great pleasure that we announce this year’s recipients.”
Davis, who won an Oscar for her supporting performance in 1988’s “The Accidental Tourist,” has been a passionate advocate for gender equality in media. She is the founder and chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, a nonprofit dedicated eliminating gender bias and stereotypes and creating a wide variety of female characters in entertainment and media aimed at children.
Born in Missoula, Montana, in 1946, Lynch wrote, produced and directed his first full-length feature film, “Eraserhead,” in 1977. Its success brought Lynch the opportunity to direct “The Elephant Man” (1980), which received eight Oscar nominations, including directing and adapted screenplay for Lynch.
Studi is a Cherokee-American actor who has appeared in more than 30 films, becoming known for portraying strong Native American characters with poignancy and authenticity.
In 1976, Wertmüller became the first woman to receive an Academy Award nomination for Directing when she received both directing and original screenplay nominations for “Seven Beauties.”
For information, visit oscars.org.
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