BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, USA: The 12th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) held its Annual Awards Gala event hosted by General Hospitals Tristan Rogers at the Boca Raton Resort & Club this weekend. The Awards event is held each year to honour outstanding individuals of the film industry. Receiving awards this year for their contribution to filmmaking were South African producer Anant Singh, actor Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange, and most recently NBC’s Heroes), actress Q’Orianka Kilcher (The New World) and the legendary Margaret O’ Brien (Meet Me In St. Louis, Little Women).
Singh received the World Visionary Award, while Malcolm McDowell was awarded the Career Achievement Award and Q’Orianka Kilcher received the Shooting Star Award. The Legend In Film Award went to Margaret O’ Brien.
“It is indeed an honour to be a recipient of this World Visionary Award. I am honoured to be sharing the stage with Malcolm McDowell with whom I have worked before. Malcolm is also a great fan of South Africa and has enjoyed shooting in the country,” commented Anant Singh. “I have been making films for 20 years and this is a real milestone for South Africa. Global cinema is a very significant business and now my country is finally being recognized. What we have tried to do in South Africa, is to make good quality films, and to think globally, while producing locally. The South African film industry is currently going through its most exciting and vibrant periods in its history, with the full support of all stakeholders and government,” added Singh.
Today (23 April), the Festival will focus on South Africa by screening films produced by Singh. The films being screened are the Oscar Nominated, Yesterday; the multi award-winning Red Dust which is based on a Truth And Reconciliation story; the hit comedy, Mr. Bones and the stylish Cape Flats gangster film, Dollars And White Pipes.
