Horizons Hosts Talk With Barry Levinson, Bob Schieffer May 15

From Horizons at New Canaan Country School: Two of the most highly-acclaimed storytellers of our time, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker, Barry Levinson, and Emmy® Award-winning journalist, Bob Schieffer, will take the stage for a rare, unscripted conversation on Tuesday, May 15 to benefit Horizons at New Canaan Country School. This event is open to the public.

“Horizons is thrilled to bring together these two giants in their fields,” said Nancy von Euler, Executive Director of Horizons at New Canaan Country School. “For six decades, Barry Levinson and Bob Schieffer have moved us with the stories they have created and covered.” In a wide-ranging discussion, these two luminaries will share stories and thoughts on the shifts in our current media landscape, and talk about their current projects. Levinson and Schieffer, who have both won virtually every award in their respective fields, continue to be prolific. Levinson’s new film, Paterno, starring Al Pacino, premiered on HBO earlier this month, while Schieffer’s new book, Overload: Finding the Truth in Today’s Deluge of News, was released in October. Elm Street Books will have signed copies of the book available for purchase at the event.

The talk begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of New Canaan Country School. Immediately following the program, 20 guests can continue the conversation with Levinson and Schieffer at an intimate dinner. General admission is $100; VIP tickets are $500 and include dinner, front-row seating and a signed copy of Schieffer’s book.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.

Levinson is a director, screenwriter and producer who was awarded the 1988 Best Director Oscar for the multiple Academy Award©-winning Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. In 1991, Bugsy, directed and produced by Levinson, was nominated for ten Academy Award®s including Best Picture and Best Director. As a screenwriter, Levinson has received three Oscar® nominations for And Justice for All, Diner and Avalon. More recently, Levinson executive produced and directed the HBO films, The Wizard of Lies and You Don’t Know Jack, which received a combined 19 Emmy® nominations, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Best Director.Other iconic films include The Natural, Good Morning Vietnam, Wag the Dog and Sleepers. In 1998, Levinson became one of Variety’s“Billion Dollar Directors,” as well as ShoWest’s “Director of the Year.” In 2010, the Writers Guild of America presented Levinson with a lifetime achievement award for outstanding writing for motion pictures.

Much of Schieffer’s recognition has come in his later years, when he wrote four of his five books, moderated three presidential debates to high praise, won his eighth Emmy®, was declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and anchored the CBS Evening News for two years, a period that saw a significant increase in the ratings. During Schieffer’s 24-year tenure as moderator of Face the Nation on CBS, the program expanded to a full hour and became the number-one public affairs program on television. Schieffer’s most treasured accolade came in 2015 when The Bob Schieffer College of Communication at his alma mater, Texas Christian University, was named for him. Schieffer also holds 15 honorary degrees from universities across the country and will give the Williams College Commencement address in June. Schieffer officially retired from CBS in 2015, but continues to work with the network as a political analyst.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Horizons at New Canaan Country School. Horizons is a non-profit that builds brighter futures for K-12 students from low income families by creating year-round academic, artistic, and athletic opportunities, nurturing potential, cultivating a safe and supportive community, and inspiring individual dreams. The summer program and year-round enrichment opportunities are housed on the campus at New Canaan Country School and provide 400 underserved children a year with academic and enrichment services and support. For more information, please visit www.horizonskids.org.

Photos courtesy of Horizons at New Canaan Country School:

(Image 1) Barry Levinson

(Image 2) Bob Schieffer