Johannesburg - The film “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” and former president Nelson Mandela were bestowed with an inaugural Special Honorary Award by the Cinema for Peace on Thursday.
Film producer Anant Singh said the Cinema For Peace recognised Mandela's life and legacy.
“The Cinema for Peace Award recognises Madiba’s exceptional life by honouring him and the film. We are extremely thrilled to have the film join Madiba being honoured as the first recipient of the Special Honorary Award,” he said in a statement.
Chairman and founder of Cinema for Peace, Jaka Bizilj, announced that the movie was also nominated for the Cinema for Peace Most Valuable Movie Award.
Previous winners of this award included “Lincoln” directed by Steven Spielberg and “In the Land of Blood and Honey” directed by Angelina Jolie as well as George Clooney and Grant Heslov for “Good Night, and Good Luck”.
Cinema For Peace was established in 2002 and aims to raise awareness of the social relevance of films and use movies and documentaries to create awareness of global, social, political and humanitarian problems.
“Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” was released in Germany last Thursday. The Cinema For Peace Gala Awards ceremony would be held in Berlin on February 10.
The movie will be released in Australia on Thursday, in Greece, Hong Kong and Mozambique on Friday, in Finland on February 14 and Turkey on February 28.
The movie, which stars British actors Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, South African actors Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Terry Pheto, Jamie Bartlett, and Deon Lotz, is based on Mandela's autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom”.
Mandela died aged 95 at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on December 5.
Sapa