GOLDEN ALEXANDER AWARD PRESENTED TO JOHN MALKOVICH

 

 

 

The talented American actor, director and producer John Malkovich, was presented with a Golden Alexander Award on Sunday, November 18^th at the packed Olympion theatre, for his lifetime achievement in cinema.

 

Konstantinos Kontovrakis introduced the award ceremony, characterizing Mr. Malkovich as a man who gracefully combines the meaning of a great actor with that of a contemporary intellectual.

 

The Director of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, Despina Mouzaki and the President, George Corraface welcomed the popular artist. “With us tonight is a great actor of our times, a somewhat mythical figure, a man who is as simple as he is mysterious”, said Mr. Mouzaki and added: “His presence here is a great honor for us and we owe him this award for the roles he has played and the enjoyment he has given us”.

 

The President of the Festival, Mr. George Corraface wanted to present Malkovich with another gift. “It’s nothing more than a simple word”, said Mr. Corraface, “used in the Greek language which means ‘actor’”. “This word”, he explained, “is complex. The second part contains the meaning poetry, poet, creator and the first part means morality, attitude”. “I believe that the artist we are honoring tonight expresses these two notions in the best of ways”, he said.

 

John Malkovich was happy to receive the Golden Alexander and thanked everyone for the award saying: “I am always surprised by all of the opportunities that arise in my life and I am happy for all of the wonderful people in every corner of the earth that I had the chance to work with throughout my career. Events like today’s mean very much to me as they help me continue my efforts”.

 

The film Being John Malkovich by Spike Jonze was screened after the award ceremony.