The Producers Guild of America will honor Bob and Harvey Weinstein next year with a Milestone Award. This is an award given to top-notch industry leaders. This is appropriate considering the Weinstein’s are the Godfather of the award season. They know how to produce and rally behind a movie in order to have it succeed at the box office and during awards season. Since the beginning of 1970’s, Miramax and Weinstein Company who have collected received 303 Oscar nominations and won 75 Academy Awards. The Press Release courtesy of the local The Weinstein Company publicist:
THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA HONORS BOB AND HARVEY WEINSTEIN WITH THE 2013 MILESTONE AWARD
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 23, 2012) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that legendary filmmakers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, co-founders and Co-Chairmen of The Weinstein Company, will be honored with the 2013 Milestone Award. The award will be presented to the Weinsteins at the 24th Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The Milestone Award is the Guild’s highest honor recognizing an individual or team who has made historic contributions to the entertainment industry. In the past, the Producers Guild has paid tribute to such industry leaders as Clint Eastwood, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, James Cameron, Ron Meyer and last year’s 2012 recipient Leslie Moonves, among others.
“Beginning in the late 1970s with Miramax Films and continuing through today with The Weinstein Company, Bob and Harvey consistently seek out, nurture and help bring audiences the stories that others are often afraid to tell,” said Producers Guild National Board member and Awards Chair Michael De Luca (MONEYBALL, THE SOCIAL NETWORK). “Their passionate regard for the spectacular diversity and resolve of the human spirit has brought us such iconic and award-winning films as THE CRYING GAME, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, PULP FICTION, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, GOOD WILL HUNTING, THE KING’S SPEECH and most recently, THE ARTIST and the courageous documentary, BULLY. Bob and Harvey’s brave dedication to emerging producers and other storytellers has virtually redefined the term ‘independent film,’ making it possible for some of our culture’s most vital stories to break out from the shadows of smaller arthouse theaters into the bright light of large multiplexes around the globe. We salute them for their contributions to our industry, and we are so proud to recognize them with the Guild’s highest honor.”
“We couldn’t be more thankful to our fellow producers and the many predecessors who’ve inspired us and guided the independent film world to its present state,” said Bob and Harvey Weinstein. “It is easy to be dedicated to something you love. Without our peers who’ve joined us in taking chances on the first time director or the unknown talent, and without the curious audiences who take chances on the movie with subtitles or better yet, no sound or color, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We’re deeply honored and humbled for this recognition from the Producers Guild of America for our life’s work.”
Bob Weinstein, Co-Chairman, The Weinstein Company & Dimension Films
On October 1st, 2005, Bob and Harvey Weinstein officially launched their new multi-media company, The Weinstein Company. Dimension Films, the genre label founded by Bob in 1993 while at Miramax Films, is included under The Weinstein Company banner. Dimension Films is committed to producing science fiction, thriller, action, family and horror films. Dimension releases include Wes Craven’s SCREAM franchise, the hilarious SCARY MOVIE franchise, Golden Globe nominated BAD SANTA, Robert Rodriguez’s successful SPY KIDS series, THE OTHERS, for which Dimension received its first ever Oscar nomination, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and such genre hits as PIRANHA 3D, THE ROAD, GRINDHOUSE, HALLOWEEN, 1408 and SIN CITY.
Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman, The Weinstein Company Harvey Weinstein launched The Weinstein Company, a multi-media company, with his brother Bob on October 1st, 2005. Since its launch, TWC and Dimension Films have also released such films as: GRINDHOUSE, 1408, I’M NOT THERE, THE MIST, THE GREAT DEBATERS, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, THE READER, THE ROAD, CLERKS II, FACTORY GIRL, HALLOWEEN, A SINGLE MAN, THE TILLMAN STORY, PIRANHA 3D, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, BLUE VALENTINE, last year’s Academy Award ® winner for Best Picture, THE KING’S SPEECH, and this year’s Academy Award ® winner for Best Picture, THE ARTIST. Harvey Weinstein founded Miramax Films in 1979 with his brother Bob, naming the company after their parents, Miriam and Max. Under Harvey and Bob’s leadership, Miramax Films released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films, including sixteen Best Picture nominations over a span of sixteen years: THE AVIATOR, FINDING NEVERLAND, CHICAGO, GANGS OF NEW YORK, IN THE BEDROOM, CHOCOLAT, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (LA VITA É BELLA), GOOD WILL HUNTING, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, IL POSTINO (THE POSTMAN), PULP FICTION, THE PIANO, THE CRYING GAME, and MY LEFT FOOT, as well as a Best Picture nomination for THE HOURS, which was a co-production. The outstanding quality of Miramax’s films under the Weinsteins’ leadership was represented in the company’s success in the annual Academy Awards race. During Harvey and Bob’s tenure at Miramax and The Weinstein Company, they have received 303 Oscar nominations and won 75 Academy Awards.
This could be perfect timing as the Weinstein Company gears up for an Oscar campaign at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. With an autumn line up full of Oscar bait with films including “Killing Them Softly” (9/21/12), “Butter” (10/5/12), Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” (10/12/12), David O’Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook (11/21/12), and Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” (12/25/12), some of these films will be in contention for the multiple Oscars as the Weinstein’s receive this award. It is perfect timing for the Weinstein machine. We will see what they bring to the Oscar table this year. In my opinion, both “The Artist” and “Undefeated” were the best films nominated in their respected Academy Award categories for Best Picture and Best Documentary Feature. The Weinstein’s know how to pick a winner and I look forward to the movies they distribute.
Correction: Since submitting this write up to the editor of themovieblog.com Anthony and it going live on the site, The Weinstein Company changed the release date of two of the above mentioned films. “The Master “will now open September 14th instead of October 12th and “Killing Them Softly” will open on October 19th instead of September 21st. Changing release dates seems to be a common trend in 2012!
