Jeff Nichols’ Loving To Receive Award For Social Justice From Hamptons International Film Festival

FocusFeatures

Focus Features announced today that its critically acclaimed marriage equality drama Loving will be honored with the Victor Rabinowitz & Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice by the 2016 Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF,) where it has also been given the prestigious Opening Night slot for its U.S. premiere.

The annual award is handed to a film that exemplifies the values of peace, equality, global justice and civil liberties; and is named after iconic civil rights lawyer Victor Rabinowitz and his wife Joanne, an author, filmmaker and journalist. Their son Mark Rabinowitz will appear at the festival in East Hampton to present Loving with the award in memory of his late parents. Writer/director Jeff Nichols and producer Nancy Buirski will also attend the film’s HIFF premiere tonight, Thursday, October 6th.

Mr. Nichols said, “It’s an honor for our film to receive the Social Justice Award at the Hamptons Film Festival, but I’m especially proud that Richard and Mildred Loving’s contribution to an ongoing struggle for peace, equality, and civil liberties is recognized and celebrated.”

Commented Mark Rabinowitz, “As this award is given in honor of my parents who were themselves an interracial couple, it is most appropriate and gratifying to honor this film, as well as the memories of Richard and Mildred Loving. Their story should never be forgotten.”

The film’s HIFF selection continues Loving’s successful tour of the festival circuit after strong showings in Cannes and Toronto earlier this year. Loving also play at film festivals in Austin, TX; Woodstock, NY; Mill Valley, CA; Middleburg, VA; and Columbia, NY later this month.

From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (portrayed by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry – and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.

Loving, a Focus Features release MPAA-rated “PG-13,” opens in select cities on November 4th and expands across the country later in November.

About The Hamptons International Film Festival

The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is a year-round 501(c)3 non-profit organization with events, screenings, film workshops, comprehensive summer programs and an annual film festival each October. The Festival is the premiere film event on New York State’s east end, and is an intimate showcase of some of the year’s best offerings in contemporary cinema from around the world. With cash and in-kind prizes handed out totaling more than $165,000, HIFF continues to attract some of the best films of the year. Selections from all of our programs continue to play an important role during awards season. 2015 marked the 7th time in the last 8 years that a film at the Festival has become the eventual Best Picture winner at the Oscars, making HIFF the only Festival on the East Coast with such a distinction.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb