Lee to receive Trailblazer Award at 2020 LMGI Awards

(Lee is recipient of Trailblazer Award)

Oscar-winning director Spike Lee, whose films have reflected significant cultural and historical content with the highest quality, will receive the esteemed Trailblazer Award from the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) at the 7th Annual LMGI Awards celebrating the theme “2020 VisionWe See It First.” 

The 2020 Awards, hosted by actor Isaiah Mustafa (IT: Chapter 2, Horrible Bosses), will honor the prestigious spectrum of Lee’s extraordinary award-winning work over the past three decades on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM PT during a virtual ceremony. The announcement was made today by LMGI President Mike Fantasia and Awards Co-chairs Lori Balton and John Rakich.

Awards Co-chair and former LMGI President Lori Balton comments, “We are especially grateful that Mr. Lee has brought so much diverse talent into the industry. Actors like Samuel Jackson, Rosie Perez and Giancarlo Esposito, but also so many of us working behind the scenes—Wynn Thomas, Ruth Carter, Ernest Dickerson and Brent Owens to name a few.  He is a Trailblazer on a number of levels.


ALSO READ: Spike Lee & Budweiser create Jackie Robinson short film


“Spike Lee is an award-winning film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. Lee’s work has continually explored race relations, colorism in the Black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues. He has won numerous accolades for his work, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Emmy® Awards, two Peabody Awards, and the Cannes Grand Prix.

He has also received an Academy Honorary Award, an Honorary BAFTA Award, an Honorary César, and The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize among many others.Lee made his directorial debut in 1986 with She’s Gotta Have It and has since written and directed such films as Do the Right ThingMo’ Better BluesJungle Fever, Malcolm XHe Got Game25th HourInside ManChi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and, most recently, Da 5 Bloods.

Lee also acted in ten of his films. Lee’s films Do the Right ThingMalcolm X4 Little Girls and She’s Gotta Have It were each selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Lee is also the the CEO and ECD SpikeDDB, now in its 23rd year.

“Final online balloting for the LMGI Awards will be held August 1-10, 2020 and winners will be announced at the virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM PT. The LMGI Awards honor the outstanding and creative visual contributions by location professionals in film, television and commercials from around the globe. The LMGI Awards also recognize outstanding service by film commissions for their support “above and beyond” during the production process.


SUBSCRIBE: Sign up for our FREE e-lert here.  Stay on top of the latest national advertising, film, TV, entertainment and production news!


For a list of 2020 LMGI Awards nominees, visit here.

(Lee is recipient of Trailblazer Award)

Oscar-winning director Spike Lee, whose films have reflected significant cultural and historical content with the highest quality, will receive the esteemed Trailblazer Award from the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) at the 7th Annual LMGI Awards celebrating the theme “2020 VisionWe See It First.” 

The 2020 Awards, hosted by actor Isaiah Mustafa (IT: Chapter 2, Horrible Bosses), will honor the prestigious spectrum of Lee’s extraordinary award-winning work over the past three decades on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM PT during a virtual ceremony. The announcement was made today by LMGI President Mike Fantasia and Awards Co-chairs Lori Balton and John Rakich.

Awards Co-chair and former LMGI President Lori Balton comments, “We are especially grateful that Mr. Lee has brought so much diverse talent into the industry. Actors like Samuel Jackson, Rosie Perez and Giancarlo Esposito, but also so many of us working behind the scenes—Wynn Thomas, Ruth Carter, Ernest Dickerson and Brent Owens to name a few.  He is a Trailblazer on a number of levels.


ALSO READ: Spike Lee & Budweiser create Jackie Robinson short film


“Spike Lee is an award-winning film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. Lee’s work has continually explored race relations, colorism in the Black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues. He has won numerous accolades for his work, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Emmy® Awards, two Peabody Awards, and the Cannes Grand Prix.

He has also received an Academy Honorary Award, an Honorary BAFTA Award, an Honorary César, and The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize among many others.Lee made his directorial debut in 1986 with She’s Gotta Have It and has since written and directed such films as Do the Right ThingMo’ Better BluesJungle Fever, Malcolm XHe Got Game25th HourInside ManChi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and, most recently, Da 5 Bloods.

Lee also acted in ten of his films. Lee’s films Do the Right ThingMalcolm X4 Little Girls and She’s Gotta Have It were each selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Lee is also the the CEO and ECD SpikeDDB, now in its 23rd year.

“Final online balloting for the LMGI Awards will be held August 1-10, 2020 and winners will be announced at the virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM PT. The LMGI Awards honor the outstanding and creative visual contributions by location professionals in film, television and commercials from around the globe. The LMGI Awards also recognize outstanding service by film commissions for their support “above and beyond” during the production process.


SUBSCRIBE: Sign up for our FREE e-lert here.  Stay on top of the latest national advertising, film, TV, entertainment and production news!


For a list of 2020 LMGI Awards nominees, visit here.