Lin-Manuel Miranda To Be Honored By Greenwich Film Festival

GREENWICH, CT — Lin-Manuel Miranda, the world renowned actor, singer, songwriter, playwright and film director, will be honored by the Greenwich International Film Festival this spring with the Changemaker Award at the annual Changemaker Gala.

The award "honors artists who have used their public platform and the power of film to further positive social change," according to a news release from GIFF.

Through The Miranda Family Fund, Miranda has supported programs involving education, the arts, and social justice, along with a sustained focus on relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Past honorees include Eva Longoria Baston, Ashley Judd, Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington Burns, Freida Pinto, Trudie Styler, Abigail Breslin, Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow.

"We are honored to have Lin-Manuel Miranda as our Changemaker this year. He is a perfect example of the type of artist and human being we want to celebrate at GIFF,"said Wendy Stapleton, chairwoman of the board for GIFF, in a news release Thursday. "He has used his talent to educate and inspire. In Lin-Manuel’s own words, 'Art and Philanthropy come from the same place.' Lin-Manuel is acutely aware that he has a platform to help those less fortunate and he has done so relentlessly."

The Changemaker Gala will be held in-person on May 25 at L'Escale in downtown Greenwich. It will be emceed by Jenna Bush-Hager, daughter of President George W. Bush.

Miranda, the creator and original star of Broadway's "Hamilton", is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winner.

"I am especially honored to receive this award from GIFF, a non-profit that ‘bridges the worlds of art and philanthropy'—two areas I care about so deeply," Miranda said in a news release. "I wouldn’t be where I am without the investment that arts educators have been putting into students for decades, often made possible only by the philanthropy of others. My family and I long ago made a commitment to continue that philanthropy, to open up more avenues for underrepresented artists, to diversify the field and allow far more people to be seen and heard. Thank you to GIFF for helping to continue to make that possible."

The Miranda Family Fund also focuses on "building and creating new opportunities for artists of color across all mediums," GIFF said. Over the last three years, the Mirandas have invested in over 80 emerging artists, providing professional training, support in the business of the arts, access to casting directors, managers and agents, along with "changing some of the systemic barriers that inhibit underrepresented voices from pursuing careers in arts administration."

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, GIFF was virtual in 2020 and 2021, but will return to in-person in 2022.

"After a year of considerable industry change, GIFF has chosen to move to a year-round programming format that will allow the organization to offer film screenings, panel discussions and events throughout 2022, instead of during a dedicated festival week," GIFF said in a news release.

A new feature, titled "GIFF: Uninterrupted", will provide filmmakers the opportunity to screen their projects with ease around premiere dates, press tours and simultaneous festival runs.

GIFF also hosts an exclusive digital streaming platform, for circumstances in which an in-person event is not possible, offering the flexibility for in-person or remote events.

GIFF will continue to offer its prestigious Best Social Impact Film Award, which includes a $10,000 cash prize underwritten by Ann & Nick Young. The Film Award will be announced during a virtual ceremony on April 27.

For more details on the Changemaker Gala and how to attend, visit the GIFF website.