DJIMON HOUNSOU
SCORES SHOWEST GONG
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ March 9th 2004 ]
ShoWest
2004, which will take place March 22nd - March
25th, is pleased to announce that Djimon Hounsou,
who was recently nominated for The Best Supporting
Actor Academy Award for his role as "Mateo" in
Jim Sheridan's critically acclaimed, semi-autobiographical,
In America, has been named ShoWest 2004 Supporting
Actor of the Year, it was announced today by Mitch
Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event.
"It takes
a very special actor to create a character as
complex as Mateo. Djimon Hounsou was a true joy
to watch in In America and we could not be more
excited about honouring his performance with the
ShoWest 2004 Supporting Actor of the Year Award,"
said Neuhauser. "It's always special to be able
to screen a film at ShoWest well in advance of
its release date, and to have it go on to receive
such critical and commercial success. Such is
the case with In America and we thank Fox Searchlight
for giving us this opportunity in 2003."
While
this is his first Academy Award nomination, Djimon
Hounsou is also a Golden Globe-nominated actor
for his career-making role in the Stephen Spielberg's
Amistad. Additionally, Hounsou starred in the
second instalment of the action blockbuster Lara
Croft: Tomb Raider for Paramount Pictures with
Angelina Jolie. And earlier this year he starred
with Laurence Fishburne in the blockbuster action
feature Biker Boyz for DreamWorks. Hounsou is
currently shooting the futuristic thriller, Constantine
for Warner Bros. studios in which he will be starring
with Keanu Reeves. This film is an adaptation
of the popular comic book, "Hellblazer".
On the
small screen Hounsou can be seen guest starring
alongside Jennifer Garner in the ABC hit series
"Alias" starring as, Kazari Bomani the leader
of the notorious organization known as "The Covenant".
Born in Benin, West Africa, Hounsou moved to Paris
at the age of thirteen for his education where
he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry
Muglar. Soon after, Hounsou worked with legendary
photography Herb Ritts and starred in several
television commercials for now-famed film director
David Fincher (Alien 3, Seven). Most recently
Hounsou was used for several of the popular 2003
Gap campaigns, which appeared on television and
in print.
Hounsou
moved to Los Angeles where he taught himself to
speak English (largely by watching television
commercials). A featured role in the Janet Jackson
video, "Love Will Never Do Without You," caught
the attention of agents and casting directors.
This led to small roles in such films as "Stargate,"
Unlawful Entry and Deep Rising, and Amistad. Hounsou
was also seen starring in such epics as Ridley
Scott's, Oscar winning film, Gladiator opposite
Russell Crowe, and The Four Feathers, for Miramax
Films opposite Kate Hudson and Heath Ledger. The
ShoWest 2003 Supporting Actor of the Year was
Christopher Walken.
Celebrating
its 30th Anniversary in 2004, ShoWest is the world's
largest motion picture industry convention. The
2004 edition of ShoWest will be held from March
22nd-25th at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas and at
this time it is expected that more than 5000 members
of the industry will be on hand. Each year, ShoWest
attracts delegates from more than 45 countries
in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
For the third consecutive year, DLP Cinema, a
Texas Instruments Technology, is the Official
Corporate Sponsor of ShoWest. Founded by the National
Association of Theatre Owners of California and
Nevada, ShoWest is managed by the VNU Expositions
Film Group, a division of VNU Business Media.
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