Connie Britton to open Maui Film Festival
Actress to be honored with 2017 Navigator Award at the Celestial Cinema in Wailea on June 21
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WAILEA -- Beloved movie and TV star Connie Britton will step off the screen to accept the 2017 Navigator Award and open the Maui Film Festival's 18th season on June 21.
Britton will receive the festival's 2017 Navigator Award at the festival's Celestial Cinema on the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course. The tribute, including an interview and clip reel, will be followed by an 8 p.m. screening of "Beatriz at Dinner," a comedy in which she co-stars with Selma Hayek and John Lithgow.
Festival founder and director Barry Rivers announced Britton's award this morning.
"Where empathy, compassion, grace and kindheartedness dovetail with determination, focus and drive, film artists can breathe life into their characters and light the room and screens both large and small with their glow," said Rivers. "Connie Britton has proven she is one of these special actors and maybe even more importantly, a true original. We couldn't be more pleased to be honoring her with the 2017 Maui Film Festival Navigator Award."
Britton is a four-time Emmy nominee for her roles in "Friday Night Lights" on NBC and "Nashville" on ABC.
The Navigator Award honors "a film artist for carving a path of distinction through the turbulent waters of the entertainment industry without sacrificing his or her fundamental commitment to excellence." Previous Navigator honorees include Elizabeth Banks, Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Greg Kinnear, Virginia Madsen and last year's recipients, Bryan Cranston and Viola Davis.
Britton received her fourth Emmy nomination as the female lead in the first season of "American Horror Story" on FX. On television she was a standout in series including "Spin City," "24" and "The West Wing." More recently she played Faye Resnick in the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning "The People v. O.J. Simpson."
On the big screen, Britton recently finished production on "Land of Steady Habits" and "Professor Marston & The Wonder Woman." Among her many memorable big-screen roles are "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl," "This Is Where I Leave You," "The To-Do List," "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World," "American Ultra," "The Brothers McMullen," "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "No Looking Back," "Looking for Kitty," "The Lather Effect" and "The Last Winter."
In 2014, Britton was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, raising awareness and advocating for the organization's work in poverty eradication and women's empowerment.
Britton follows two previously announced honorees for this year's festival: Rising Star Karen Gillan and Shining Star Freida Pinto. A fourth announcement of a 2017 Maui Film Festival award for an iconic film artist is expected later this week.
Featuring film screenings, filmmaker panels, parties and food events, the festival runs June 21-25 in Wailea and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. For more information, tickets and passes, visit www.mauifilmfestival.com.
* Contact Rick Chatenever at rickchatenever@gmail.com.