Hollywood: Don Cheadle To Receive Spirit of Independence Award, Pinkett-Smith Hosts

Date: 06/11/08 | By Njai Joszor
Filed under: Hollywood, Don Cheadle

Actor/Humanitarian Don Cheadle will be honored with the Sprit of Independence Award at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival Awards Ceremony.

Cheadle, a Golden Globe Award winning actor and film producer is often heralded for his role in the 2004 film “Hotel Rwanda” and his efforts to end genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

"Don Cheadle has created extraordinary work in his career as an actor and producer. This honorary award is a gesture of our appreciation for his diligence and determination to produce consistently brilliant work for the film world," Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, who throws the annual fest, said.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Spirit of Independence Award recognizes artistic independence in film. Cheadle whose credits also include roles in “Traffic,” “Ocean’s Eleven,”and “Out of Sight” will join previous honorees George Clooney, Charlize Theron and Clint Eastwood when he receives the award on June 29th.

In related news, Jada Pinkett-Smith is slated to host the Los Angeles Film Festival’s Filmmaker Reception on June 23rd. Pinkett-Smith whose band Wicked Wisdom recently inked a deal with Surburban Noise and Koch Entertainment Distribution joins Antonio Banderas and Rob Reiner as Co-Chairs for the festival which runs June 19 - 29th.