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Filmmaker Stanley Nelson.[/caption]
The Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival will honor Stanley Nelson as the recipient of this year’s Career Achievement Award at the festival which takes place in Sag Harbor, December 3 – 6. The award is given to filmmakers whose documentary contributions throughout the years have been significant and impactful, bringing an original vision and a clear voice to the documentary genre. Previous honorees include: Richard Leacock (2011), Susan Lacy (2012), DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus (2013) and Barbara Kopple (2014).
With 35 films and multiple industry awards to his credit, Nelson is acknowledged as one of the premier documentary filmmakers working today. His films have earned five Primetime Emmys, two awards from the Sundance Film Festival, and two Peabodys, among other honors. He is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a recipient of the NEH National Medal in the Humanities presented by President Obama in 2014.
“It is a great privilege to present our 2015 Career Achievement Award to Stanley Nelson. His award-winning documentary films on social justice issues were early windows into race relations,” said founder and Executive Director of HT2FF, Jacqui Lofaro. “His latest film, ‘The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution’ continues the provocative dialogue, even more relevant in America today. We honor his commitment to honesty, truth and artistic rigor.”
“It is always great to receive accolades; it doesn’t get old,” said Mr. Nelson. “Documentary filmmakers don’t get recognition every day. To be recognized because people are seeing and liking my films is great and the award means this is happening.”
Although Nelson’s documentaries span many topics—the massacre at Wounded Knee, the life and times of Marcus Garvey, the tragedy of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, the music of Sweet Honey in the Rock—he has been deeply drawn to tell the stories of the civil rights movement via such award winning films as “Freedom Riders” (2010), “The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords” (1999) and “The Murder of Emmett Till” (1988), among others, which he says “set forces in motion that changed the world.”
HT2FF will be screening “Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” in honor of Mr. Nelson, at the festival.
The Career Achievement Award will be given at a Gala Evening on Saturday, December 5. For information about the festival and for tickets, please visit ht2ff.com.
