British Academy Of Film And Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) To Honor Robert De Niro With The Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award For Excellence In Film

Los Angeles, CA, September 22, 2009 -- The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles^® (BAFTA/LA) will honor multi-Academy Award^® winning and BAFTA nominated actor and director Robert De Niro with its most prestigious film award, the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film, at the 2009 BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

"Robert De Niro is truly a film icon, and his formidable ability to disappear into each and every character he plays makes him one of the most acclaimed actors in the world," says BAFTA/LA Chairman Peter Morris. "His impressive body of work exemplifies his extraordinary craftsmanship and determination as an actor, director and producer, and I am excited that BAFTA/LA has selected Mr. De Niro to receive this outstanding honor."

De Niro will next star in Miramax Films' "Everybody's Fine" which opens nationwide on December 4, 2009.

De Niro launched his prolific motion picture career in Brian De Palma's "The Wedding Party" in 1969. By 1973 De Niro had twice won the New York Film Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of his critically acclaimed performances in "Bang the Drum Slowly" and Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets." In 1974 De Niro received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the young Vito Corleone in "The Godfather, Part II." In 1980 he won his second Oscar, as Best Actor, for his extraordinary portrayal of Jake La Motta in Scorsese's "Raging Bull." De Niro has earned Academy Award nominations in four additional films: as Travis Bickle in Scorsese's acclaimed "Taxi Driver," as a Vietnam vet in Michael Cimino's "The Deer Hunter," as a catatonic patient brought to life in Penny Marshall's "Awakenings," and in 1992 as Max Cady, an ex-con looking for revenge, in Scorsese's remake of the 1962 classic "Cape Fear."

His recent film credits include "What Just Happened, "Righteous Kill;' Elia Kazan's "The Last Tycoon"; Bernardo Bertolucci's "1900"; Ulu Grosbard's "True Confessions" and "Falling in Love"; Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America"; Scorsese's "King of Comedy," "New York," "Goodfellas," and "Casino"; Terry Gilliam's "Brazil"; Roland Joffe's "The Mission"; Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables"; Alan Parker's "Angel Heart"; Martin Brest's "Midnight Run"; David Jones' "Jacknife"; Martin Ritt's "Stanley and Iris"; Neil Jordan's "We're No Angels"; Penny Marshall's "Awakenings"; Ron Howard's "Backdraft"; Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown"; DreamWorks's "Shark Tale" and Jay Roach's "Meet The Parents," and "Meet the Fockers."

De Niro takes pride in the development of his production company, Tribeca Productions, the Tribeca Film Center, which he founded with Jane Rosenthal in 1988, and in the Tribeca Film Festival, which he founded with Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Through Tribeca Productions, De Niro develops projects on which he serves in a combination of capacities, including producer, director and actor. Tribeca's "A Bronx Tale" in 1993 marked De Niro's directorial debut. He later directed and co-starred in "The Good Shepherd" with Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Other Tribeca features include "Thunderheart," "Cape Fear," "Mistress," "Night and the City," "The Night We Never Met," "Faithful," "Panther," "Marvin's Room," "Wag the Dog," "Analyze This," "Flawless," " The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle," "Meet the Parents," "Fifteen Minutes," "Showtime," "Analyze That" and "Meet the Fockers."

BAFTA/LA's outreach programs benefit members and other professionals working within the entertainment industry, as well as the Los Angeles community at large. BAFTA/LA provides exclusive access to screenings, Q&A's with talent and filmmakers, conversations with leading UK-based film and television executives, and the Heritage Archive, featuring broadcast-quality interviews with distinguished British members of the film and television industries. Educational outreach for students and the Los Angeles community includes an after-school screening program for inner-city youth at the Helen Keller Park Recreation Center, and a recent partnership with FilmAid to mentor young filmmakers. Additional programs include seminars in association with local universities and festivals, scholarships for post-graduate programs, and recognizing professional and student talent with awards at film festivals throughout the U.S.

Maintaining a long tradition of recognizing the finest filmmaking and television talent, BAFTA/LA hosts a series of social networking events, including the Annual BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards, the BAFTA Film Awards Brunch, the Annual Garden Party, the BAFTA/LA British Comedy Festival & Awards Dinner, and the Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties in January and September. BAFTA/LA is affiliated with BAFTA in London, and members vote annually for the prestigious BAFTA Film Awards as well as for Best International Program at the BAFTA Television Awards. BAFTA/LA also presents its annual Britannia Awards every November, where it has honored such luminaries as Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, and Martin Scorsese with Britannia Awards for Excellence in both film and television.

For more information on BAFTA/LA, visit www.baftala.org.