Acclaimed actor Michael Keaton was presented with a sculpture award created by Bennett Awards as the recipient of the 2016 George Eastman Award. The George Eastman Award was established by the George Eastman Museum in 1955 as the first retrospective film award to honor artistic works of enduring value. Previous George Eastman Award recipients include Charles Chaplin, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Cecil B. DeMille, Greta Garbo, Lillian Gish, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Martin Scorsese, James Stewart, Meryl Streep, and Michael Douglas.
Keaton received this recognition award based on his distinguished contributions to the art of film. He has forty years of experience in art and film, and has appeared in over forty films, including Night Shift, Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice, Batman Returns, and, more recently, Birdman and Spotlight, both of which won Academy Awards for Best Picture. For his role in Birdman, Keaton won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
As the recipient of this recognition award, Keaton was presented with the unique Bennett sculpture award “Elite”, designed by Tom Bennett. This sculpture was cast in bronze, and featured a unique combination of both patina and high-polished finishes. The sculpture was mounted on a black marble base with gold-fill engraving of the award name, award purpose, recipient name, and date of presentation.
Keaton received this recognition award at a ceremony held June 9, 2016, at the Dryden Theatre in Rochester, New York. The ceremony featured a video compilation of his work and a conversation with Keaton, followed by a gala in the museum.