Friday, August 24--------The Montreal World Film Festival will honor the American actor Jon Voight this evening with a Special Grand Prix of the Americas for lifetime achievement at the world premiere screening of his most recent film, SEPTEMBER DAWN. The film, directed by Christopher Cain, is a Romeo and Juliet love story told against the background of the real-life infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which 120 men, women and children pioneers were massacred by Mormons in Utah on September 11, 1857. Joining Voight in Montreal during the Festival will be the film's director Christopher Cain, producer Scott Duthie and Executive Producer Patrick Imeson.  

Voight, an Oscar-winner and four-time nominee, has had a long and distinguished career as both a leading man and, in recent years, character actor, with an extensive range. He has been one of Hollywood's busiest actor for four decades. After starting his acting career in theater and on television, the blond, blue-eyed actor made his feature debut in 1967 in director Phillip Kaufman's low-budget crimefighter spoof, FEARLESS FRANK. That same year, Voight got his first strong notices in the western film, HOUR OF THE GUN, directed by veteran helmer John Sturges. This led to his breakout role as the naive Texas hustler who tries to survive on the mean streets of New York City in the 1969 classic MIDNIGHT COWBOY. Voight was nominated for his first Best Actor Oscar for the film, but lost to sentimental favorite John Wayne (for TRUE GRIT). However, the film ignited his career and he became one of the most sought-after young actors in Hollywood. In the next few years, he had prominent roles in the films CATCH 22 (1970), DELIVERANCE (1972), CONRACK (1973) and THE ODESSA FILE (1976).

In 1978, he teamed opposite Jane Fonda in Hal Ashby's moving Vietnam tale COMING HOME. Both Voight and Fonda won Oscars for their lead roles. The film also inspired his lifelong interest in politics and social activism. He was nominated again for a Best Actor Oscar in the thriller RUNAWAY TRAIN (1985) and made strong impressions in supporting roles in the films HEAT (1995), MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (1996) and opposite his daughter Angelina Jolie in LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER (2001). He was last nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his impersonation of the late newscaster Howard Cosell, in the Spike Lee biopic ALI (2002). He last appeared in this summer's boxoffice champ TRANSFORMERS and has 3 upcoming films that will be released next year.

Sandy Mandelberger, Montreal World Film Festival Editor