Spotlight Initiative Awards Gala to Shine Bright

with
Jennifer Connelly, Maria Bello, Nick Cannon, Parker PoseyUzo Aduba, Jim Sheridan, Jonathan Demme, The Poet of Havana

Toronto, ON (September 1, 2016) – The Creative Coalition is pleased to announce the honorees for the organization’s annual Spotlight Initiative Awards Dinner Gala to be bestowed during the Toronto International Film Festival. Honorees include Jennifer Connelly (American Pastoral, A Beautiful Mind), Maria Bello (The Journey is the Destination, A History of Violence), Jonathan Demme (JT & the Tennessee Kids, Rachel Getting Married), Parker Posey (Mascots, Café Society), Nick Cannon (King of the Dancehall, Chi-Raq), Uzo Aduba (American Pastoral, “Orange Is the New Black”), Jim Sheridan (The Secret Scripture, My Left Foot), Ron Chapman for The Poet of Havana which premiered in the US on HBO Latino and is currently airing on HBO/TMN Canada, and others TBA. The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative Awards Dinner Gala takes place on Saturday evening, September 10, 2016 at STK Toronto, 155 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto.  The event will serve as the first dinner event at The One Group’s STK Toronto and serve as a special preview of the soon-to-open restaurant. Details are as follows:

Who:
Confirmed talent includes Jennifer Connelly (American Pastoral, A Beautiful Mind), Maria Bello (The Journey is the Destination, A History of Violence), Jonathan Demme (JT & the Tennessee Kids, Rachel Getting Married), Parker Posey (Mascots, Café Society), Nick Cannon (King of the Dancehall, Chi-Raq), Uzo Aduba (American Pastoral, “Orange Is the New Black”), Ewan McGregor (American Pastoral, Trainspotting), Paul Haggis (Letters from Iwo Jima, Crash), Christopher Guest (Mascots, Best in Show), Jim Sheridan (The Secret Scripture, My Left Foot), Ron Chapman (The Poet of Havana, The Forbidden Shore), Terry George (The Promise, In the Name of the Father), and others TBA.

When:
Saturday evening, September 10th
6:30 pm – Press Call
7:00 pm – Red Carpet/Photo Ops/VIP Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres
7:30 pm – Dinner and Awards

Where:
STK Toronto
153 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, ON Canada

The event will be a private gala awards dinner hosted at Supper Suite by STK. 

***THIS IS AN INVITATION-ONLY, TICKETED EVENT.  ALL PRESS MUST BE CREDENTIALED WITH HLawal@thecreativecoalition.org SPACE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED***

ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION AND THE SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE:
The Creative Coalition (www.TheCreativeCoalition.org) is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan 501 (c)(3) social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community.  Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance.  Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s President.  The Spotlight Initiative Awards are a prestigious honor in the independent film arena.  For over a decade, these honors have been bestowed during the Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto Film Festivals.  Recent recipients include Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Eddie Izzard, William H. Macy, Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sean Penn, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jane Alexander, Harry Belafonte, Russell Simmons, Cicely Tyson, Marcia Gay Harden, Melissa Leo, Elijah Wood, Anna Kendrick, Ellen Barkin, Alan Arkin, Tracy Morgan, Kate Bosworth, Jane Lynch, Shailene Woodley, Alfred Molina, Cheryl Hines, Josh Gad, Jonathan Pryce, Emile Hirsch; and directors Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Taylor Hackford, George Hickenlooper, Lee Daniels, Roland Emmerich, Barry Levinson, among others.

For Immediate Release:
Media Contact:
Harlin Lawal
HLawal@thecreativecoalition.org
646-717-9904

###