CARRIE FISHER IN UTAH TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE REAL RAIN MAN FISHER NAMED SECOND RECIPIENT OF PEEK DISABILITY IN MEDIA AWARD: SLC (NOV.9)

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.

Tickets will go on sale September 26 through ArtTix at www.arttix.org.

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

The Utah Film Center brings the world of film to local audiences through free community screenings and discussions, outreach programs and visiting artists and industry professionals. Emphasizing social content and artistic excellence, we present the best documentary, independent and dramatic cinema year-round. We collaborate with various organizations to promote a diversity of ideas to provide forums for underrepresented groups and to develop new audiences for film.

The Utah Film Center programs are generously supported by the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Rio Tinto, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Zions Bank, and Zoo, Arts & Parks.