Documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple is truly a force to be reckoned with. She has received not one but two Academy Awards atop a bevy of other honors. Now, Kopple will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a retrospective of Kopple’s career thus far will accompany the award. Director of Programming Shane Smith said that Kopple’s “limitless ingenuity and passion have led her to create some of the most memorable, provocative, and illuminating films of our time.”
Kopple is one of three women to receive this honor to date. Kim Longinotto was recognized in 2010, and Heddy Honigman received the same honor three years prior. As Kopple told Women and Hollywood last year, “I think for many years now women have made a major impact on documentary filmmaking, and many have been at the forefront of the documentary community.”
Kopple received Academy Awards for “Harland County U.S.A.” and “American Dream.” Recent works include “Running from Crazy,” “Miss Sharon Jones!”, and 2017 Sundance favorite “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.” Kopple will be recognized with the Laura Ziskin Lifetime Achievement Award at next month’s Athena Film Festival.
The 25th Hot Docs festival will run from April 26 to May 6.
