Sir Patrick Stewart to Receive SDiFF Peck Award for Excellence in Cinema

The San Diego International Film Festival (SDiFF), produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, announced today that iconic stage and screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart will be the recipient of the Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in Cinema. The awards will be presented October 5th at The VARIETY Night of the Stars Tribute at the Pendry Hotel San Diego in Downtown San Diego, CA.

Additionally, the festival announced its full lineup of films, including Spotlight, Competition and Short Film sections. Now in its 16th year, the San Diego International Film Festival will run from October 4th through October 8th in San Diego, CA. The most up to date festival information is available at www.sdfilmfest.com

Patrick Stewart is one of the most acclaimed and beloved performers working today, with numerous and varied roles on both stage and screen, earning Golden Globe, SAG, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations. Earlier this year, Stewart starred as 'Professor Charles Xavier' in the latest X-Men epic "Logan," reprising a role he originated in the first installment of the franchise in 2000 and earning some of the best reviews of his career. Though he is perhaps best known from his years on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", Stewart's impressive list of credits spans more than 40 years and countless memorable roles, including recent acclaimed performances in "Green Room," "Match," and the Starz comedy "Blunt Talk." Stewart is a three-time Olivier Award winner and an Honorary Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2001, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth conferred on Stewart the order of the Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.), and in 2010, he received a knighthood for his services to Drama. His philanthropic efforts include his longtime support of Amnesty International and his role as a Patron of both Refuge and Combat Stress in the UK.

"Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences for years with spectacular performances, from Star Trek to his career defining performance in Logan earlier this year, as well as his Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated performance as Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, a role which Mr. Peck made famous more than 40 years earlier. We couldn't be more excited to honor him this year with the Gregory Peck Award," said Tonya Mantooth, Executive and Artistic Director of the San Diego International Film Festival.

Created in honor of famed actor and San Diego area native Gregory Peck, with the support of his family, this award is given to an individual whose work has made a profound impact on the art of cinema. Launched in 2014, the first recipient of the award was Alan Arkin, with Annette Bening receiving the award last year.

Leading the program at this year's festival are the Spotlight Films screenings, which include 10 titles altogether of various genres.

In addition, SDiFF is proud to screen narrative, documentary and short films, both in and out of competition, vying for top award honors. The lineup below includes 117 films total, 10 Narrative Spotlight Competition films, 18 Narrative Competition films, 12 Documentary Competition films, 5 Documentary Spotlight Competition films, and 72 Short films.

Screenings will be held in the newly renovated historic Balboa Theater and Regal Theaters in Downtown San Diego, and ArcLight Cinemas in La Jolla. The complete list of 2017 San Diego Film Festival titles including descriptions will soon be available at www.sdfilmfest.com.

Passes are currently on sale to VIP members and the general public. In addition to screenings and events, passes provide access to the official festival lounge and parties where pass holders interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. Individual tickets will go on sale beginning August 30th.

For more information regarding passes/tickets, press accreditation, industry passes, or sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.sdfilmfest.com

San Diego International Film Festival is produced by the nonprofit, San Diego Film Foundation.

The San Diego International Film Festival is the region's premier film event and one of the leading stops on the independent festival circuit. SDiFF offers a totally unique film experience; including world premieres, never before seen studio releases, the best in independent filmmaking and a full schedule of glamorous parties and intimate events with filmmakers.

Learn more: www.sdfilmfest.com

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