Martin Scorsese will received the inaugural Robert Osborne Award in recognition of his work at the TCM Classic Film Festival this year, Turner Classic Movies announced Thursday.
The award will be presented on April 26 during opening night of the 2018 festival.
“I am truly honored to be the first recipient of the Robert Osborne Award,” Scorsese said in a statement. “I started The Film Foundation 28 years ago in order to preserve and share cinema’s history with audiences of the present and the future. Bob and TCM have always been trusted allies in this mission. I always loved watching Bob’s introductions and interviews on TCM because you could immediately feel that this was someone who knew movie history, who wanted to share that knowledge and pass it on, and – most importantly – who truly loved movies. Bob was a true believer in the cinema, so to receive this award in his name means a great deal to me.”
The award, which will be given out annually, recognizes a person who has “helped keep the cultural heritage of classic films alive and thriving for generations to come.”
Scorsese has been a director and film preservationist for more than 50 years, where his films include “New York, New York,” “Raging Bull,” “Goodfellas,” “The Age of Innocence,” “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator,” “Shutter Island,” “Silence” and his upcoming film, “The Irishman.” He is a five-time nominee for Best Director at the Academy Awards, and he won in 2007 for his film “The Departed.”
In 1990, Scorsese established The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization which is dedicated to protecting and preserving film history by working with archives and studios. The foundation has restored over 800 films.
“In addition to his status as perhaps the definitive filmmaker of his generation, Martin Scorsese possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of film history,” said TCM primetime host Ben Mankiewicz. “And he has turned that passion for movies into a commitment for preservation, working tirelessly to restore and preserve the world’s cinematic heritage. Both Martin and Robert have helped ensure that classic film will continue to be experienced as it was meant to be seen, for years to come.”
Robert Osborne served as the primetime host and anchor of TCM for more than 22 years.
The TCM Classic Film Festival will take place from April 26 to April 29, with The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles being the central gathering point for all attendees. Screenings and events will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and the Egyptian Theatre.