The three-time Oscar® nominee Stephen Daldry (“The Hours,” “The Reader,” “Billy Elliot”) will receive the prestigious ‘Excellence in Directing Award’ at the 22nd edition of Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, this November (November 15th– 22nd).
The ‘Excellence in Directing Award’ recognizes exceptional filmmakers who have changed the way movies are made with their creativity, visual skills, and passion for their craft. In addition to great filming, Camerimage also recognizes merit in the filmmaker’s creation of a properly meaningful, stylish and sensuous visual narrative; prowess in working with all the external and internal limitations; and the ability of cooperating with others for the sole purpose of creating the best film possible, especially while working with actors, who guide the viewers over different aspects of the on-screen world.
There are a few directors who can boast having as rapid and as wonderful of a career as Stephen Daldry. He started off directing acclaimed stage adaptations at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre and eventually moving onto London's Gate Theatre and finally the Royal Court Theatre. While honing his craftsmanship, Daldry quickly rose to prominence and considered transitioning his career into film.
Daldry’s first film was a short titled “Eight,” which earned him a BAFTA Film Award nomination. “Billy Elliot” was his first feature-length film, which earned him his first Academy Award® nomination in the “Best Director” category. Two more Oscar® nominations came for his subsequent films “The Hours” and “The Reader,” making Daldry the first and only film director who was nominated in this category for his first three films.
Daldry is a brilliant director with great emotional sensibility and attention to detail, which makes his cinematic tales of unique individuals, struggling with various forces, all the more compelling. His films are planned out in every possible aspect and he achieves a degree of control over all the elements of the creative and narrative processes, which enables him to create a space for alluring spontaneity, typically unpredictable human behavior, and a number of deeply emotional and personal scenes that makes the audience both think about and feel for them. The perfect example of that came with Oscar® winner “The Hours,” a tale of three women from different generations, living in different times, who struggle with the treacherous fate and the passing of time.
Daldry is considered a true actor's director, including when working with young debutants. Under his supervision Jamie Bell was a revelation in three-time Oscar® nominated “Billy Elliot,” and another young boy, Thomas Horn, was able to hold his own with Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Max von Sydow in two-time Academy Award® nominated “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.”
Daldry's genius in working with young actors can also be seen in this year's Camerimage Main Competition entry, “Trash,” which focuses on three Brazilian boys who channel their boundless youth energy to create a fascinating trio who risk their lives to fight the corrupt system
Daldry is a filmmaker who is not only aware of each and every aspect of the director's job, but also know how to use the tools at his disposal in creating mesmerizing and unique works of art. Whether he works on a film set, or directs a stage play, he always starts his new projects with the experience and knowledge of a true veteran and passion of a teenager who has to figure out the best way to channel all the emotions and ideas gathering in his heart and mind.
It was previously announced that Oscar® nominee Philip Kaufman (“Quills,” “The Right Stuff,” “Henry & June”) will receive the Festival’s coveted ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Directing’ and five-time Academy Award® nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Right Stuff,” ‘The Natural,” “The Patriot,” “The Passion of the Christ”) will be the recipient of the Festival’s prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 22nd edition of Camerimage, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography.
About CAMERIMAGE
Now in its 22nd Edition, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE is the most recognized festival dedicated to the art of cinematography and is the biggest international film festival in Poland. The unconventional format of the Festival, which awards films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values, is a unique alternative to traditional film festivals.
CAMERIMAGE proves to be a great forum not only for presentation but also for further development of international moviemaking and provides a platform for young filmmakers to explore new artistic areas.
In addition to the Main Competition, the Festival offers a 3D Films Competition, Polish Films Competition, Student Etudes Competition, Documentary Films Competition, Feature Debuts Competition, Music Videos Competition, Camerimage Market, Camerimage Forum, special screenings and premieres, various reviews, retrospectives, meetings and also accompanying events such as art exhibitions and music performances.
Various presentations of modern film equipment and of the latest production and postproduction technologies (both traditional and digital) are also an inherent aspect of the Festival and have been organized with cooperation from companies such as Arri, Panavision, Kodak, Hawk, K5600, J.L. Fisher, Sony, Panasonic, KinoFlo, Technicolor, Canon, Zeiss and Red.
CAMERIMAGE is an extraordinary event where art and technology meet, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Please visit http://www.camerimage.pl/ for more information.