Vice President Al Gore and film producer Jason Blum will receive the humanitarian and industry tributes at the 2017 Independent Filmmaker Project Gotham Awards, it was announced Monday.
Gore will receive the Humanitarian Tribute, which recognizes an individual who has had a profound and transformative global impact through cinema.
The ceremony will be held on Monday, Nov. 27, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
The former vice president spends the majority of his time as chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit organization that is focused on solutions to the global climate crises. He also brought the climate crises to the attention of audiences through “An Inconvenient Truth” and “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.”
Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982, and the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990. He was inaugurated as the 45th Vice President on January 20, 1993, and served 8 years.
The Industry Tribute is awarded to an individual whose unique vision and contributions have made a significant impact on the motion picture and TV industry. Blum has produced more than 70 films as well as many television projects, making Blumhouse one of the most prolific production companies in Hollywood.
Blum founded Blumhouse Productions, known for “low budget” horror films, in 2000. For example, “Paranormal Activity” was made for $15,000 and grossed nearly $200 million worldwide. His other credits include “Split,” “Get Out,” “The Purge,” “Insidious,” “Sinister” and the rest of the “Paranormal Activity” franchises.
Blum also served as a producer on “Whiplash” and was nominated for an Academy Award for it. He won Emmys for producing HBO’s “The Normal Heart” and “The Jinx.” He also received the 2016 Producer of the Year Award at CinemaCon and was named to the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people in 2017. Before Blumhouse, he served as Co-President of Acquisitions at Miramax.
“We are thrilled to be presenting Vice President Al Gore with the Humanitarian Tribute and Jason Blum with the Industry Tribute” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “Mr. Gore’s urgent message on the dangers of climate change has been heard and seen around the globe, motivating individuals, communities, businesses, and world leaders to take action, reminding us of the power of cinema and its ability to affect change. Jason Blum has shown the industry how creative and innovative models that support smart, original filmmakers- and produced with an economy of means -can be a potent force in connecting with audiences and achieving popular success.”
Additional 2017 tributes will be announced in the coming weeks. Previous honorees include Oliver Stone, Ethan Hawke, Amy Adams, Helen Mirren, Robert Redford, Tilda Swinton, Ted Sarandos, Bob & Harvey Weinstein, Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, Gus Van Sant and more.
Nominees for the Gotham Awards will be announced on Oct. 19 and winners will be honored at the ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Nov. 27.