Editor

OUTFEST, the world's leading organization dedicated to showcasing, protecting and nurturing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film imagery and artistry, will honor Academy Award®-winning producer Bruce Cohen and NBC Universal this month at the institution’s annual LEGACY AWARDS, it was announced today by Kirsten Schaffer, Interim Executive Director of Outfest The event serves as a fundraiser for the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, a collaboration between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, which is the only program in the world devoted to saving and preserving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender moving images.

In making the announcement, Outfest Interim Executive Director Kirsten Schaeffer praised the contributions of both honorees to the LBGT community. "NBC Universal has been at the forefront of positive portrayals of gay and lesbian characters in their programming and as a corporate citizen, has a very active LGBT employee organization, respected throughout the company," said Schaffer. "As a producer, philanthropist and activist, Bruce Cohen has been one of the singular most influential supporters of Outfest and LBGT filmmakers."

Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive partnered in 2005 to create the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation. The only program of its kind in the world, the Outfest Legacy Project is aimed at the growing crisis in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) moving image archiving. Many of the landmark LGBT films produced over the last 30 years are already in danger of fading away: their original exhibition prints in tatters; their negatives in woeful storage conditions; or even lost.

"The preservation of our community's stories is crucial and as a filmmaker, I know how vital the work of the Legacy Project is in protecting years of work, projects and films for future generations" said, Cohen. "Because of my wonderful association with Outfest over many years, this award and recognition is a tremendous honor."

Among the various celebrity participants in the evening’s program, comedian Bruce Vilanch will host the evening's program. Ewan McGregor will present the award to Bruce Cohen and Ellen Greene (“Pushing Daisies”) will do a special musical performance.