Editor

The Philadelphia Film Society is proud to announce Sandra Bernhard and Charles Busch as the recipients of the 12th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival’s Artistic Achievement Award. Bernhard and Busch truly exemplify what it means to be a Renaissance artist, all the while standing proud as openly gay.

Actress, musician, author, activist… Bernhard has cemented her reputation as Hollywood’s most versatile artist and has done so while remaining unapologetically forthright with her sexuality. Bernhard’s career skyrocketed 29 years ago when she made her professional debut as a comedian on the “The Richard Pryor Show.” The audience loved her and pretty soon she was everywhere. From film work to TV appearances, Bernhard even caught the attention of the National Society of Film Critics who named her best supporting actress in 1983 for her work alongside Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy.

Bernhard returned to her roots with the 1985 off-Broadway premiere of I’m Your Woman, the first of her many acclaimed one-woman shows. Since then, Bernhard has brought several other hit shows to Broadway including 1988’s Without You I’m Nothing, 1998’s I’m Still Here…Damn It and 2006’s Everything Bad and Beautiful.

In 1989, Bernhard received her first Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Over the course of her career, Bernhard has released 11 albums, written three books, been a leading voice in the fight against AIDS and championed to further gay, lesbian and women’s rights. For her role as a gay and lesbian role model, Bernhard will be awarded with the Artistic Achievement Award on Friday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. Twenty Dollar Drinks, the David Brind-directed short film starring Bernhard, will be screened immediately after the award ceremony.

Novelist, playwright, screenwriter, director, actor… Busch has played everything from a Siamese twin showgirl to a female police officer to his latest role, a Danish nurse. Busch first came to the scene in 1976 with his own drag comedy, Sister Act. Other career credits include Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Tony-nominated The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and the films Psycho Beach Party and Sundance favorite Die Mommie Die!

Last year, the documentary, The Lady in Question is Charles Busch, chronicled this drag legend’s life. Now, in his directorial debut, Busch brings the autobiographical A Very Serious Person to this year’s festival. The film is a fictional version of Busch’s upbringing with his Aunt Lil. For his passion for film and his commitment to the gay and lesbian community, Busch will receive the Artistic Achievement Award on Saturday, July 22 at 7:15 p.m. at the Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. The screening of A Very Serious Person will immediately follow the ceremony.