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In between eight movie premieres, several screenings, and countless after-parties, the CineVegas film festival this week will also take a moment to honor some of the people who are particularly talented in the art of on-screen storytelling. Two actors, two directors, and two video game designers will be given awards this Sunday, June 14, at the CineVegas Awards Reception inside Rain nightclub.
Among them is actor Jon Voight, who’ll be given the Marquee Award, recognizing his artistic excellence, professional accomplishment, and dedication to cinema.
Voight’s had a long and distinguished career as both a leading actor and, in recent years, a character actor, with a wide range of experience on the small and silver screen. He first came into his own as an actor in 1969 with a performance in Midnight Cowboy, for which he earned his first Oscar nomination. Throughout the decades, Voight continued to build his repertoire with challenging roles in films such Deliverance, Ali, and Coming Home, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Currently, Voight stars in the seventh season of 24 as the villain Jonas Hodges.
Meanwhile, Willem Dafoe will be honored with the Vanguard Actor Award, which honors the distinctive mark he’s made in film through his brave performances.
Dafoe is a two-time Academy Award winner and has appeared in over 70 films throughout his career. One of the founding members of New York-based experimental theater troupe the Wooster Group, Dafoe created and performed in all its work from 1977 to 2005. Some of his upcoming film releases include My Son My Son, Fantastic Mr. Fox, DayBreakers, and Cirque du Frank.
And finally, the Vanguard Director Award will be given to George and Mike Kuchar in recognition of their vision and ability to make films without compromise. Some of the Kuchar’s classic films include Hold Me While I’m Naked, Sins of the Fleshapoids, and Summer of No Return.
“What an honor it is for CineVegas to have the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of these esteemed actors, directors and artists at our 11th annual Festival,” stated Trevor Groth, Artistic Director of CineVegas. “In addition to paying tribute to such powerful acting forces as Jon Voight and Willem Dafoe, as well as two pioneers of underground cinema the Kuchar Brothers, we are also proud to partner with Planet Illogica to award Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago, two revolutionaries in the video gaming design world, for their outstanding achievement in the world of new media and as trailblazers in a compelling new era of storytelling.”
In honor of the award winners, CineVegas will present a remastered director’s cut of Lookin’ to Get Out, starring and co-written by Voight and filmed in Las Vegas, followed by a Q&A with the actor at noon. That same day, there’ll also be a 3 pm conversation with Dafoe following a screening of his 1982 film, The Loveless. In addition, George and Mike Kuchar will participate in a live conversation before a screening of their new short films on Sunday, June 14, at 9 pm.
The CineVegas film festival kicks off at the Palms Casino Resort’s Brenden Theatres this Wednesday, June 10, and lasts through Monday, June 15. The festival will feature eight world premieres starting with the debut of Saint John of Las Vegas, starring Steve Buscemi.
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