Mar 15, 2017
Festival
San Francisco, CA — SFFILM announced today that Gordon Gund will be presented with a tribute at the 60th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 5-19), honoring the celebrated philanthropist’s lifetime of contributions to a myriad of critical causes including medicine and the arts. This onstage tribute and conversation, accompanied by a screening of Tom Scott’s short documentary The Illumination (2016), will take place on Thursday, April 13, 5:00 pm at SFMOMA’s Phyllis Wattis Theater.
“Gordon Gund has touched the lives of so many people throughout the world with his bold and inspirational efforts in multiple fields,” said Noah Cowan, Executive Director of SFFILM. “On the occasion of the film The Illumination that spotlights his life and work, we are honored to pay tribute to this unsung hero and his efforts to help people around the world. Gordon believes in science and the solutions it provides to make human life better.”
When Gordon Gund lost his sight in 1970 at age 30 due to retinitis pigmentosa, he resolved to find a cure for the disease and along with his wife Lulie and other dedicated leaders, created the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). Since 1972, a time when very little was known about retinal diseases, FFB has spearheaded research to cure these afflictions. Over the past 45 years, the Foundation has raised over $700 million in its effort to restore vision. After decades of scientific research, a major breakthrough emerged, and in a remarkable twist of fate, it was a blind person, Gordon Gund, who made it possible for another, 17-year old Yannick Duwé, to see. The short film The Illumination (The Nantucket Project, 2016) showcases the inspirational story of this beneficiary of the work of Gordon Gund and FFB.
The Gund family has steadfastly supported SFFILM for many years, and we would not be the robust organization we are today without their assistance. In a newly initiated program focusing on philanthropy, SFFILM pays tribute to Gordon Gund and his generous support for the research, treatments, and accomplishments of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Tickets to A Tribute to Gordon Gund: The Illumination are free with registration online at sffilm.org.
Gordon Gund joins a stunning group of honorees being presented with public tributes at the 60th SFFILM Festival, including storyteller Ethan Hawke, filmmaker James Ivory, actor Shah Rukh Khan, and filmmaker John Ridley.
For general information visit sffilm.org/festival
To request interviews or screeners, contact your Festival Press Office contact.
For photos and press materials visit sffilm.org/press
60th San Francisco International Film Festival The longest-running film festival in the Americas, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in one of the country’s most beautiful cities. The 60th edition runs April 5-19 at venues across the Bay Area and features nearly 200 films and live events, 14 juried awards with close to $40,000 in cash prizes, and upwards of 100 participating filmmaker guests.