Legendary Aboriginal actor Graham Greene to receive ReelWorld Award of Excellence

TORONTO, March 14, 2006

Graham Greene will receive this year’s ReelWorld Award of Excellence at the ReelWorld Film Festival’s “Brunch with Brilliance” on Sunday, April 23.  He will also be the featured guest at ReelSpeak on the evening of Saturday, April 22. 
 
The highlight of the Festival’s Industry Series, ReelSpeak is an intimate yet casual 90-minute conversation with the guest of honour.  Audiences can look forward to a candid discussion about Graham Greene’s career to date, moderated by CBC Radio film critic, Jesse Wente.
 
Most widely known for his Academy Award-nominated role of Kicking Bird in the internationally acclaimed Dances with Wolves, Graham Greene has been seen on theatrical stages as well as film and TV screens for 30 years, delivering performances that have expanded the range of roles for Aboriginal actors in Canada and America.  Mr. Greene’s film appearances also include The Green Mile, Die Hard With A Vengeance, Spirit Bear and Maverick.  Recently, the Gemini award-winning actor appeared in Steven Spielberg's Into The West on TNT and Duncan Tucker’s acclaimed independent film Transamerica. 
 
“ReelWorld is honoured that Mr. Greene will be accepting this award.  Having an actor with such skill and prominence present will enrich this year’s award ceremony.  More importantly, emerging Aboriginal artists that flavour our festival each year can certainly study his career as a potential road map to their success,” says new ReelWorld Film Festival Executive Director Patricia Scarlett.

Each year, ReelWorld’s Industry Series selects an outstanding diverse artist who has risen through the ranks of the entertainment industry and realised success.  Shabana Azmi, Hollywood and Bollywood star, received the inaugural award in 2005. The 6th Annual ReelWorld Film Festival takes place April 19-23 with film screenings at Rainbow Cinemas and the Industry Series’ workshops and panels at the historic St. Lawrence Hall. 
 
ReelWorld Film Festival is Canada’s premiere non-profit film festival dedicated to nurturing, promoting and celebrating the full spectrum of racial and culturally diverse film and video. For the past six years, the Film Festival and Foundation have been instrumental in helping talent of colour success in the entertainment industry.  Actress, director and producer Tonya Lee Williams founded ReelWorld in 2001 to provide a platform for emerging individuals of colour in the entertainment industry to build their dreams and hone their skills.

ReelWorld Film Festival
April 19 -23, 2005
www.reelworld.ca
 
-30-
 

For more information, please contact:
 
438 Parliament Street, Suite 300 
  Toronto, ON  Canada  M5A 3A2 
T: (416) 598 7933 
F: (416) 585 2524
www.reelworld.ca •  info@reelworld.ca

For media interviews, contact:

Kevin Pennant
kp@pennantmediagroup.com