Cinema

The Venice Biennale and Jaeger-LeCoultre are pleased to announce that acclaimed American director Spike Lee has won this year’s Jaeger-LeCoultre “Glory to the Filmmaker 2012” prize. This prize is awarded to persons who have made major contributions to contemporary cinema. Spike Lee will receive the award at a ceremony on Friday 31st August as part of the 69th Venice Film Festival, accompanied by a unique engraved Reverso watch.

The president of the Venice Festival, Alberto Barbera, had this to say about him: “Spike Lee has a bold creative spirit. He is the author of courageous and abrasive films, often unpredictable and provocative, in the best sense of the term. Films which confront us with our prejudices and stereotypes.”

Following the ceremony, the Mostra will host the world preview of Spike Lee’s new documentary, Bad 25, shot to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson’s historic album, Bad. Spike Lee has directed two videos for Michael Jackson, They Don’t Care About Us (1997) and This Is It (2009).