Pioneering U.S. casting director Bonnie Timmermann — known for changing the face of Hollywood film and television by imposing diversity and discovering a multitude of talents — will be honored by Italy’s Biografilm Festival, the unique event billed as a cinematic celebration of human lives.
In the mid 1980s, Timmermann broke new ground with the diverse range of actors she cast in the Michael Mann-directed TV series “Miami Vice” and later worked with Mann on “Manhunter,” “Heat” and “The Insider.” Her long long list of casting credits also includes “Trading Places,” “The Karate Kid,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Bull Durham,” “Armageddon,” “Black Hawk Down” and, more recently, the Derek Cianfrance-directed “Roofman.”
In a joint statement, Biografilm Festival artistic directors Chiara Liberti and Massimo Benvegnù called Timmermann “a visionary talent scout,” noting that she discovered stars such as Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johansson, Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, Viggo Mortensen, Benicio Del Toro and Mark Ruffalo.
“For over 40 years, Bonnie Timmermann has been the one taking a leap of faith. She saw the icons of today when they were still unknowns in a rehearsal room, long before the world knew their names,” they said.
“By awarding Bonnie the Celebration of Lives Award, we are not just honoring an extraordinary career; we are celebrating the intuition, the courage and the profound human connection that lies in the casting process, which often turns a script into an unforgettable film,” the Biografilm fest chiefs added.
They also noted that the Biografilm award for Timmermann arrives “at a historic turning point for the industry,” as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially introduces the new competitive category for best achievement in casting, the culmination of a campaign for recognition that has taken decades.
To mark the occasion, the fest will host a screening of the 2022 documentary “Bonnie,” directed by Simon Wallon, in which Timmermann reflects on her profession amid footage of global superstars during their very first auditions.
Previous recipients of the Celebration of Lives Award award include Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola, Radu Jude and Olivier Assayas.
The 22nd edition of the Biografilm Festival will run in Bologna June 5-15.
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