CLINT EASTWOOD HAS been awarded a major new Irish film award designed to honour the memory of one of the most famous Irish-American filmmakers.
The Hollywood legend was awarded the inaugural John Ford Award by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFA) at a ceremony in California yesterday.
Presenting the award to the Hollywood legend, the Irish ambassador to America Michael Collins said that he was “honoured” to meet Eastwood:
” The selection of Clint Eastwood as the recipient of this inaugural John Ford Award draws a direct ine between two of Hollywood’s greatest and most inspirational and creative figures”.
John Ford, an Irish-American whose parents were raised on the west coast of Ireland, made more than 136 films over 60 years.
His films included The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was My Valley, Stagecoach and The Searchers.
He holds the record for winning the most Oscars for Best Director, and received 26 Oscar nominations in total throughout his career.
The award will be handed out every year by the John Ford Ireland committee to a filmmaker who has “similar incredibly skill and vision and Ford”.
IFTA has also established John Ford Ireland – an annual symposium in Dublin which will examine Ford’s ongoing influence on contemporary cinema.
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