Steven Spielberg named Filmmaker of the Year by ACE

Credit: Dreamworks

I can’t remember a year in which a film was as big a contender at the Oscars as ‘Lincoln’, and a filmmaker as buzzed about for their effort as Steven Spielberg, yet with neither the director nor the film itself earning actual plaudits in the weeks leading up to the ceremony (the lion’s share of the film’s awards have gone to Daniel Day-Lewis). That will all change on February 16, when the American Cinema Editors honor Steven Spielberg, as the legendary director has been named the recipient of this year’s Golden Eddie Award for Filmmaker of the Year.

The honorary award, to be presented at the ACE’s Eddie Award ceremony, has been used as a career achievement award for filmmakers that have been less active in recent years, such as Richard Donner and Norman Jewison. However, in recent years, Christopher Nolan and Alexander Payne have earned the accolade, in years where their own films (“Inception” and “The Descendants”, respectively) were in contention for ACE Eddie Awards. Spielberg is among the most lauded filmmakers to ever receive the honor, with eleven of his films (nine of them edited by the legendary Michael Kahn) earning ACE Eddie Award nominations, and four of them winning the award: “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan”. A spokesperson for the ACE’s Board of Directors released a statement announcing the honor:

“Steven Spielberg is a cinematic treasure. For over four decades he has been moving audiences around the world with his unique, powerful brand of storytelling. As one of the most successful directors in history, he has brought us beloved films, which have not only delighted us but have been indelibly woven into our cultural fabric. Throughout it all, he has worked side by side with the great Michael Kahn, A.C.E., forming a director-editor partnership that has lasted decades. It is our pleasure to recognize him with the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honor, especially in a year where he has, once again, created a masterpiece with his latest film, Lincoln.”

The ACE Eddie Awards will be presented on February 16.