Civil Rights Coalition Makes Unprecedented Decision

Civil Rights Coalition Makes Unprecedented Decision

Announces Lionsgate Movie 'Crash' Will Receive Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation's premier civil rights and human rights coalition, today announced that it will honor Lionsgate's extraordinary film "Crash" with the 2006 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award, the organization's highest honor given to those committed to the advancement of civil and human rights.

"When I saw 'Crash' I was deeply moved not just by the powerful portrayal of the racial, ethnic and class tensions in our society, but because the characters and situations felt so real," said Wade Henderson, Executive Director of LCCR. "At that moment I said to myself, 'LCCR needs to recognize this unprecedented film to further its underlying message -- the need for greater tolerance and understanding.'"

"Never in our 30-year history of conferring the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award has LCCR ever considered a film," continued Henderson. "But 'Crash' is not just a film. It is a powerful, gut-wrenching, full-frontal examination of race and class in America. It is about the difficulties of being a successful black professional or a hard-working Latino dad and the prejudices they still endure. Like Martin Luther King 40 years ago, 'Crash' speaks to America's current generation," said Henderson.

"All of us who worked on 'Crash' are extremely happy with its critical and commercial success. But what is truly gratifying is the ongoing discussion and introspection that the film has generated beyond the entertainment world, in the realm of real life and everyday social relations," said director, producer and co-writer Paul Haggis. "I am thrilled and humbled that the Leadership Conference believes 'Crash' is worthy of this award."

Challenging and thought provoking, "Crash" takes a provocative, unflinching look at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America. Diving headlong into the diverse melting pot of post-9/11 Los Angeles, this compelling urban drama tracks the volatile intersections of a multi-ethnic cast of characters' struggles to overcome their fears as they careen in and out of one another's lives. This dynamic feature brings us a distinguished cast including: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe and Larenz Tate.

"As soon as I read the script, I instantly knew that 'Crash' was destined to be a socially responsible and important film that I wanted to be intimately involved with," said Bob Yari, President Yari Film Group and Producer, 'Crash'. "We are thrilled that our faith in the film has been rewarded and we are deeply gratified to have this prestigious honor bestowed upon us."

"We are proud to be the distributors of 'Crash', a film which has truly taken on a life of its own and which has impacted so many along the way. We're honored by the LCCR's recognition with this prestigious award," said Tom Ortenberg, President of Lionsgate Releasing. Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) Toronto is the premier independent filmed entertainment production and distribution studio.

Jean Prewitt, President & CEO of the Independent Film and Television Alliance commented, "On behalf of the entire independent film industry, we are humbled by the LCCR's decision to give its prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights award to 'Crash.' This recognition reinforces the view that critically acclaimed movies by independent filmmakers not only address important societal issues, but can attract an audience that values and supports such films."

LCCR's annual dinner in Washington, D.C. will be held on May 4, 2006, the 30th Anniversary of the Humphrey Award. The dinner is the largest annual gathering of the civil rights community.

At the 2006 Awards LCCR will also honor Monica Lozano, Chair of the National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Board of Directors and Publisher and CEO of La Opinion, the nation's leading Spanish language daily newspaper. Lozano is being recognized for her trailblazing work, which has elevated the Hispanic community's voice in the struggle for equality, and for her work in the field of education to advance social justice.

Previous recipients include director/producer Steven Spielberg; Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; Representative Connie Morella; United Farm Workers Union co-founder Dolores Huerta; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart and actor-activist Danny Glover, among others.

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) -- www.civilrights.org -- is the nation's oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition.

Source: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

CONTACT: Mistique Cano of Leadership Conference on Civil Rights,
+1-202-263-2882

Web site: http://www.civilrights.org/

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