Pollack is a founding member of the Sundance Institute, the Chairman Emeritus of the American Cinematheque, a sustaining founder of the Artists Rights Board of Director's Guild and on the Board of Directors for the Film Preservation Board and the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation.
Nicole Kidman's range and versatility have won her wide acclaim for her daring performances. Kidman won the 2003 Academy Award(R) for Best Actress, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Film Award and the Berlin Film Festival's Silver Bear for her performance as the great 20th century writer Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry's "The Hours." In 2001, she starred in two of the year's biggest box-office hits, "The Others" and "Moulin Rouge!," receiving an Oscar(R) nomination for her performance in the latter. Most recently, Kidman starred in Anthony Mingella's "Cold Mountain" (her sixth Golden Globe-nominated performance and fourth nomination from the Broadcast Film Critics Association), Lars Von Trier's provocative "Dogville" and in Robert Benton's "The Human Stain." In November, 2003, Kidman was presented with the American Cinematheque Award, honoring her as an "extraordinary artist currently making a significant contribution to the art of the Moving Picture" -- she was only the second actress in the award's 18-year history to be so honored. Her upcoming films include Jonathan Glazer's "Birth" and Frank Oz's "The Stepford Wives."
Oscar(R) winner Sean Penn has become one of the most respected actors of his generation during a career spanning just over two decades. Most recently, Penn opened to rave reviews for his searing performance in Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River," for which he won an Academy Award(R) and a Golden Globe for Best Actor. He has previously been nominated three times for the Academy Award(R) for Best Actor: in 1995 for Tim Robbins' "Dead Man Walking" and in 1999 for Woody Allen's "Sweet and Lowdown," performances which also earned him Golden Globe nominations; and in 2001 for Jessie Nelson's "I Am Sam." In addition, Penn received his first Golden Globe nomination in 1994 for his performance in Brian De Palma's "Carlito's Way."
Penn made his feature film acting debut in 1981 in Harold Becker's "Taps." In 1982, he entered popular culture, starring as Jeff Spicoli in Amy Heckerling's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Penn went on to appear in numerous memorable roles in films such as John Schlesinger's "The Falcon and the Snowman," James Foley's "At Close Range," Dennis Hopper's "Colors," Brian De Palma's "Casualties of War," Phil Joanou's "State of Grace," David Fincher's "The Game," and Anthony Drazan's adaptation of the stage play "Hurlyburly," a role which won him the Best Actor award at the 1998 Venice Film Festival.
Penn expanded his role in the filmmaking process with the creation of his own production company, Clyde Is Hungry Films. Through this company, Penn has produced and appeared in Erin Dignam's "Loved," executive-produced and starred in Nick Cassavetes' "She's So Lovely," appeared in Oliver Stone's "U-Turn," and produced and directed the critically acclaimed drama, "The Pledge," starring Jack Nicholson.
Penn's feature film directorial debut came with 1991's "The Indian Runner," which he also wrote and produced. In 1995, he directed Anjelica Huston to Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild Award nominations in "The Crossing Guard," which Penn also wrote and produced. The film featured highly acclaimed performances by Jack Nicholson and David Morse, as well. Most recently, Penn wrote and directed the United States' contribution to the documentary film 11'09"01. This important film (honored by the National Board of Review) gathered 11 acclaimed directors from around the world to create short films in response to the horrific events of September 11, 2001.
Penn was also recently seen in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "21 Grams," opposite Benicio del Toro and Naomi Watts; his performance won him the Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. Furthermore, Penn won this year's Best Actor award from the National Board of Review (for both "Mystic River" and "21 Grams"), was nominated for a SAG award, and won the BFCA's Critics Choice Award and numerous critics groups' awards for "Mystic River."
In 2002, Sean Penn was presented with the Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. In 2003, he was the youngest to receive the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Sebastien Film Festival.
Penn recently completed production starring in "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" for director Niels Mueller.
