Spike Lee was named Wednesday the recipient of the Directors Guild of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction.
The award is the top honor bestowed by the DGA for film directors.
“Icon. Trailblazer. Visionary. Spike Lee has changed the face of cinema, and there is no single word that encapsulates his significance to the craft of directing,” DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter said in a statement. “From his groundbreaking `Do the Right Thing,’ `BlacKkKlansman’ and everything in-between — to his signature `double dolly’ shot — Spike is an innovator on so many levels.
“His bold and passionate storytelling over the past three decades has masterfully entertained, as it held a stark mirror to our society and culture. And while he is no stranger to huge commercial success, he is also the beating heart of independent film. Even as countless filmmakers call Spike their mentor and inspiration, he continues to devote his time to teaching future generations how to make their mark. We are thrilled to present Spike with the DGA’s highest honor.”
Lee will receive the honor, which recognizes “extraordinary efforts in the art of cinema,” during the 74th annual DGA Awards on March 12.
Past recipients of the award include Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Orson Welles, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott.
Lee’s other film credits include “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever,” “Malcolm X,” “Summer of Sam,” “School Daze,” “Miracle at St. Anna” and “Clockers.”
