HAL HOLBROOK HONORED WITH EXCELLENCE IN ACTING AWARD

Denver, CO, November 15th, 2009 – Hal Holbrook, who is receiving strong critical praise for his peformance in “That Evening Sun, “ which, at age 84 is his first lead role in a film, was honored with the Excellence in Acting Award on Saturday night at this year's Starz Denver Film Festival. Mr. Holbrook was given the award by film journalist Joe Leydon, who said, about presenting the award, “This is one of the greatest honors and privileges I've had in 35 years of writing about movies. It is humbling to give an extraordinary actor this award for this extraordinary performance.” In Mr. Holbrook’s acceptance speech, he spoke passionately about his portrayal of Abner Meecham in “That Evening Sun,” saying “It feels wonderful to be recognized this way. Our film is like the 'little engine that could' and we have been so warmly embraced by the Denver Film Festival and the fine people of this beautiful city.“
An Emmy- and Tony-Award winning actor, Hal Holbrook is one of the great craftsmen of stage and screen. He is best known for his performance in his one-man show as Mark Twain, the longest running traveling show in history, for which he won both a Tony and the first of his ten Emmy Award nominations. Among Holbrook's most famous roles were the Major in the original Broadway production of Arthur Miller's "Incident at Vichy"; Abraham Lincoln in a TV special based on Carl Sandburg's acclaimed biography of the 16th President; and the enigmatic Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men.“ He also had critical roles in Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” and Sydney Pollack’s “The Firm.” On January 22, 2008, he became the oldest male performer ever nominated for an Academy Award, for his supporting turn in “Into the Wild.”
In “That Evening Sun,” Mr. Holbrook portrays Abner Meechem, an aging Tennesee farmer who returns to his homestead and must confront a family betrayal, the reappearance of an old enemy and the loss of his farm. It is based on the short story “I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down” by William Gay and was written and directed by Scott Teems, whose screenplay won the Emerging Narrative Screenplay Award at the IFP Market. This marks his directorial debut. The film is produced by Laura Smith and Terence Berry, executive produced by Adrian Jay, Larsen Jay and Raul L. Celaya of Dogwood Entertainment and produced by Raymond McKinnon and Walton Goggins.
“That Evening Sun, “ which is being distributed by Freestyle Releasing opened in NY on November 6th and will open in Los Angeles this Friday, November 20th for an Academy qualifying run. It will open around the country in January. The film has won over a dozen awards at festivals around the United States.