Cinequest Film & VR Festival Honors Award Winning Actor, Icon and Modern-Day Legend Nicolas Cage at 28th Annual Celebration of Film and Technology
Genre-Bending Cinema Legend Presented with Prestigious Award at Special Festival Event on February 28
Cinequest, a vanguard organization that fuses creativity with technological innovation to empower, improve, and transform the lives of people and communities, today announced that it will bestow its most prestigious award to a true modern-day legend of film. In a special event on February 28th , Nicolas Cage will receive Cinequest’s highest honor, the Maverick Spirit Award for his contributions to the film canon and cinema’s ongoing evolution. This special event will take place during the Cinequest Film & VR Festival in Silicon Valley, February 27th – March 11th, 2018.
“The astounding volume of work aside, Nicolas Cage’s versatility, craft and courage as an actor have made him one of the most recognized and revered artists of our time,” said Halfdan Hussey, co-founder and CEO of Cinequest. “From emotional, nuanced performances in films like Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation, to high octane edge-of-your-seat energy in box office darlings like National Treasure and The Rock, to his unparalleled comedic performances in Raising Arizona and Moonstruck, the impact he has had on the film industry cannot be measured, and we’re thrilled to honor this titan of entertainment and host him at the festival.”
Charting his own course, in a career spanning four decades, Cage has seemingly done it all, working with the best actors, directors (Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Mike Figgis, Norman Jewison, the Coen brothers, Werner Herzog, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, Spike Jonze, to name a few), and writers, producing great film after film, in virtually every genre. Besides his extensive résumé of roles, Cage has earned numerous accolades and awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Adaptation and Best Actor win for his performance in the heart-wrenching Leaving Las Vegas.
In maverick fashion, Cage adds “virtual reality actor” to his list of accolades, embracing this new medium for entertainment. His incredible new sci-fi movie, The Humanity Bureau, produced by Canadian based Minds Eye Entertainment, will be released in theatres on April 6th while its companion virtual reality experience, The Humanity Bureau VRevolution, will make its world premiere at Cinequest. A standalone episodic virtual reality series, The Humanity Bureau VRevolution gives audiences an immersive, 360 degree view of Cage’s ability to span not only different genres and styles – but mediums.
Nicolas Cage joins Cinequest on February 28th at the illustrious California Theatre, for an award presentation and conversation about his life, career and ongoing work. Cinequest VR Visionary Award honoree and producer of the VR series, The Humanity Bureau VRevolution, Travis Cloyd, will join Cage at this evening event, alongside The Humanity Bureau producer Kevin DeWalt and director Rob King, to help commemorate his achievements and discuss his approach to acting within an immersive and technologically driven format.
Founded by leading Silicon Valley leaders and film artists, Cinequest chose to names its highest honor, Mavericks Spirit, because originality, boldness, risk-taking, and creativity define the best of the world of art and innovation. Past recipients include: Harrison Ford, Michael Keaton, JJ Abrams, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Sir Ian McKellen, and Rosario Dawson. Please watch Cinequest Maverick Spirit 3 min video.
Renowned for the exceptional quality and diversity of its program, CQ2018 will screen 229 film and short films, and 29 virtual reality experiences. With 510 screenings, events, parties and experiences, Cinequest will be the venue for 75 World and 55 U.S. premieres, representing works from 45 countries. Showcasing the emerging realm of virtual reality, attendees are invited to immerse themselves in this new storytelling medium at its curated VR Cinema and VR Experience Lounge. Over the 13-day program, Silicon Valley becomes the epicenter of tech and entertainment as global filmmakers, futurists, writers, technologists, actors and converge to celebrate their work in the world’s leading innovation community and one of the most diverse metros in the world.
To learn more about the full festival lineup, and to purchase festival passes, tickets to screenings and special events, visit www.cinequest.org.
About Cinequest
A vanguard organization set in the Silicon Valley, Cinequest’s uniqueness and impact result from being ahead of the curve in the powerful integration of creativity and technology. Cinequest fuses the world of the filmed arts with that of Silicon Valley’s innovation to empower youth, artists, and innovators to create and connect – driving transformations and a better tomorrow. Cinequest does this through Cinequest Film & VR Festival, Picture The Possibilities, and its sister company Cinequest Mavericks Studio. (Voted Best Film Festival by USA Today Readers.)
