CARRIE FISHER IN UTAH TO
HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE REAL RAIN MAN
FISHER NAMED SECOND
RECIPIENT OF PEEK DISABILITY IN MEDIA AWARD
Salt Lake City, Utah - Following the first sold-out Evening with
Temple Grandin, the Utah Film Center will honor renowned actress
and author Carrie Fisher with this year's Peek Award for Disability
in Media.
According to the 2011 Annual Report
from the Utah Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, close to 200,000
people in Utah suffer from mental illness (approximately 7% of Utah´s
population) and only about 24% of
those afflicted have received treatment. Carrie Fisher´s visit to the
state in celebration of the life and impact of the real Rain Man, Salt Lake
City native Kim Peek, promises to be a deeply impactful and personal
experience.
The Utah Film Center together with
generous support from the Utah Autism Foundation and other community partners
have joined forces to present an Evening with Carrie Fisher to increasing
community awareness about disability, particularly mental illness, and the
critical role that media can play in promoting understanding and acceptance.
While upwards of 54 million Americans are estimated to have some kind of mental
disorder each year, only about eight million of those seek help, and the fear
and shame they experience can often lead to tragic ends.
The event will take place on Friday,
November 9, at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center with Barry Morrow, the
Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Rain Man, presenting the Peek Award
to Ms. Fisher as he permanently loaning his Oscar® statuette for the
people of Salt Lake City to enjoy through the Utah Film Center, in celebration
of the legacy of Kim Peek, who served as the inspiration for the film Rain Man.
Ms. Fisher will give an exciting keynote address followed by an on-stage
interview with KUER RadioWest's host Doug Fabrizio. The evening will
be emceed by journalist Carole Mikita.
Prior to the keynote event, we will
hold an elegant reception with Ms. Fisher for VIP ticket holders and sponsors
at Valter´s Osteria. Ms. Fisher will also be in the lobby after the keynote to
participate in a book signing for all ticket holders.
The Peek Award will annually honor an
actor, filmmaker, or subject of a film who is positively impacting our
society's perception of persons with disabilities. As well as inspiring those
suffering from mental illness to seek treatment, Ms. Fisher serves as an
example that each person is more than their disability and it is possible to
lead a "normal" life and even achieve great personal and professional success.
Diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder,
actress and author Carrie Fisher has struggled with manic depression all of her
life, braving national scrutiny to share her story and provide inspiration to
others who also suffer from mental illness. Ms. Fisher has advocated for
decades to increase education, awareness, and research about mental illness, as
well as to dispel the stigma surrounding this type of affliction. Through her
incredible creativity, candor, and wit, Ms. Fisher is able to use humor to
bring awareness to this serious issue and help others decide to seek treatment
and speak out.
Tickets are $50 per person, $45 for
Utah Film Center Members, and VIP.
Tickets including the pre-reception
with Ms. Fisher are $150.
More details about all of our
upcoming events and membership can be found at UtahFilmCenter.org, Twitter @UtahFilmCenter and Facebook www.facebook.com/Utah-Film-Center
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