Sundance favorite Fruitvale Station not only got a brand new poster this week, but the film’s director Ryan Coogler will be honored along with late film critic Roger Ebert at the third-annual Celebrate Sundance Institute benefit in West Hollywood on June 5th.
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Actress Kerry Washington will present Coogler with the Tiffany & Co.-sponsored Vanguard Award , which includes a cash grant and mentorship from industry professionals.
“Ryan Coogler makes an extraordinary directorial debut with ‘Fruitvale Station,’ in which he tells a heartbreaking story with courage and conviction,” said Keri Putnam , Executive Director of Sundance Institute. “His talent and promise make him a fitting recipient of our Vanguard Award, and we look with great anticipation to the release of his film this summer as well as his future work in years to come.”
The film, based on the 2009 murder of 22-year-old Oscar Grant by a BART police officer, won big at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in January.
The Forest Whitaker -produced feature is headed to Cannes Film Festival this month to compete in the “Un Certain Regard” category, which features films that present “a certain glance or a particular outlook.”
Coogler, a 26-year-old USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate, is the second recipient of the prize, the first went to Beasts of the Southern Wild ‘s Benh Zeitlin .
I really look forward to seeing Fruitvale on July 12 when it hits select theaters. Nationwide roll out is July 26. Congrats, Ryan!
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