Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood received the Director of the Year Award at the 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala. Angelina Jolie, star of Eastwood’s new movie, “Changeling,” made a surprise appearance, presenting the award to Eastwood. See photos and a video.
The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards were co-chaired by Paul Haggis and presented by Starz at The Hollywood Film Festival’s Gala Ceremony on October 27, 2008 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Five-time Academy Award winning director and producer Clint Eastwood received the prestigious award whose previous recipients include Marc Forster, Ron Howard, Michael Mann, Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone.
This award is only the latest of many lifetime achievement awards Clint Eastwood has received. He has received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award (1988), the California Governor’s Award for the Arts (1992), the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award (1995), and the Kennedy Center Honors Award (2000).
After many years as an actor, notably in the Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western genre movies in the 1960s, notably “A Fist Full of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Clint Eastwood made his directorial debut in 1971 with “Play Misty for Me.” With his own production company, Malpaso, he had complete artistic control over the movie. His second movie, “Dirty Harry” which he directed and starred as police inspector Harry Callahan, propelled him to commercial success and established his legacy as a Hollywood icon.
“Clint Eastwood is truly an American film icon, and his impressive body of work exemplifies his extraordinary ability, craftsmanship and determination as an actor, director and producer,” said Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Film Festival. “He continues to wow audiences with his creative vision as a filmmaker, and we are thrilled to honor him at the Hollywood Awards.”
Angelina Jolie’s surprise appearance caused a sensation at the ceremony. Glamorously attired in a black dress, she took to the stage and expressed high praise for Eastwood.
There are some people in this business who are icons, and we often wonder if, when we meet them, they’ll live up to what we imagine them to be,” Jolie said…”And Clint Eastwood in person is better,” she said, adding, “Clint is what every great director should be. He is a great leader, and I certainly would follow him anywhere.”
In accepting the reward, Clint Eastwood returned the praise.
“Working with someone like Angelina Jolie is a great privilege, because you get to look at that gorgeous beauty every day. And she’s also a great talent.”
In addition to “Changeling” a drama set in 1920s L.A. based on real events which is playing in limited release, and opening nationwide in the U.S. on October 31, 2008, Clint Eastwood directed, produced and starred in “Gran Torino,” which is set for limited release December 17, 2008. The movie marks Eastwood’s return to the screen as an actor for the first time in four years, since his Oscar nominated performance in “Million Dollar Baby,” which he also directed and produced.
For photos of Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie at the Hollywood Film Festival’s Gala Ceremony see - Gossip Girls. More photos and a video are below.
Photos: WENN/Fayes Vision,www.wenn.com, PR Photos