Sir Poitier has agreed to the naming of the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Bahamas International Film Festival the “Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award.”
Tyson will be on hand for the special tribute and presentation at Humidor, Graycliff.
“Cicely Tyson is an immensely gracious and beautiful woman, an extraordinary actress who has broken barriers in film and in her theatrical performances. Mrs. Tyson is also known to be an advocate for Civil Rights and the basic of human kindness. She is the governess of acting and a true role model for all men and women of color. She has broken ceilings and paved the way for excellence and it is an incredible honor to have Cicely Tyson to receive the 1st Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award at the Bahamas International Film Festival,” said BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool.. “We’re honored to recognize her amazing career on this special evening.”
“Leslie Vanderpool’s efforts have been extraordinary in making it possible for The Bahamas to have not only a film festival, but to also attract some of the great film artists and filmmakers from around the world. People like Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Glover, Alan Arkin, Sir Sean Connery, Sophie Okonedo, Lee Daniels, Lenny Kravitz and my own daughter Sydney Tamiia Poitier, who have found, to their great surprise, that the Bahamas is moving swiftly toward a bona fide motion picture community–all of which have been structured by the imaginative young Bahamians who have committed themselves to The Bahamas having a film community of its own,” Poitier added.
"I am honored to be receiving the 1st Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award. This award, in recognition of my dear friend and colleague delights my heart; both Sydney and I have always tried to use our career to not only entertain, and enlighten, but to educate as well. The Bahamas International Film Festival has become a very important avenue to highlight the work of film, filmmakers and artist," said Ms Tyson.
The 2016 BIFF Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award ceremony will be moderated by writer, broadcaster, Patty Roker, who will be conducting a conversation with Tyson about her life, her career and her very special outlook on the business of acting.
