Sherry Lansing to receive honor at Israel Film Festival

By Susan King

March 7, 2013 12 AM PT

Producer and former studio chief Sherry Lansing will receive the 2013 Israel Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening-night gala April 18 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.

Named president of 20th Century Fox in 1980, Lansing, 68, was the first woman to head a major film studio. She was chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures for more than 12 years and was involved in the producing, marketing and distribution of more than 200 films, including the Oscar-winning best pictures “Forrest Gump,” “Braveheart” and “Titanic.” Her credits as an independent producer include “Fatal Attraction” and “Black Rain.”

She is the founder and CEO of the Sherry Lansing Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer research, health, public education and encore careers.

PHOTOS: Hollywood backlot moments

“It’s such an honor for us to present Sherry Lansing with the IFF Lifetime Achievement Award,” said festival founder and executive director Meir Fenigstein in a statement Thursday. “In Hollywood, her leadership and accomplishments are unsurpassed. She is truly a great leader.”

Besides the presentation of the award to Lansing, the gala will feature the West Coast premiere of Benny Torati’s “Ballad of the Weeping Spring.” The 27th festival, April 19 through May 2, will showcase some 30 new Israeli narrative features, documentaries, TV dramas, animation and shorts.

The screenings will take place at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills and the Laemmle Town Center in Encino.

For more information go to www.IsraelFilmFestival.com

Cannes 2013: Steven Spielberg to head film festival jury

Brad Pitt’s politics, Michael Haneke’s life top 2013 Tribeca slate