The Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) will honor Peter Fonda with its first-ever Maverick Award during the Opening Ceremony of VSDA’s Home Entertainment 2003 event at the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 29th
"Mr. Fonda has had an extraordinary career and achieved great success by doing projects he feels passionate about," VSDA President Bo Andersen said. "With movies like Easy Rider, The Trip and The Hired Hand, he was instrumental in establishing a new genre of films that paved the way for many of the independent films being made today. He has always been willing to take risks and not to compromise in order to stay true to his vision. I can't think of a more appropriate recipient for our Maverick Award than Peter Fonda."
Fonda's career began on Broadway in 1961 where he appeared in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole, which earned him both the Daniel Blum Theater World Award and the New York Critics Circle Award for Best New Actor.
His feature film career was launched in 1963 when he played the romantic lead in Tammy And The Doctor and joined the ensemble cast of The Victors. However, it was his role as "Captain America" in Easy Rider that established Fonda as a cinematic icon. It also earned him an Oscar nomination for the film's screenplay. Following this film, he continued his association with Roger Corman by starring in Wild Angels and The Trip.
Peter's acting career has continued with diverse roles in a wide range of films including Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, Race With The Devil and Escape From L.A. In 1997 his starring role in Ulee's Gold earned him both Golden Globe and New York Film Critics Awards for Best Actor as well as an Oscar nomination. In 1999 Fonda co-starred in the Steven Soderberg film, The Limey, and he was most recently seen in HBO's The Laramie Project. He just wrapped The Maldonado Miracle, directed by Salma Hayek for Showtime Networks.
Along with screenwriting and acting, Peter Fonda has had an impressive directing career. He directed his first film, The Hired Hand, in 1971 - a critically acclaimed western in which he also starred. The Hired Hand debuted with a restored version at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. Following a limited theatrical release, the film will be released later this year on home video and DVD under the Sundance Channel Home Entertainment label, distributed by Showtime Entertainment.
Other directing credits include Idaho Transfer and Wanda Nevada, in which he also starred.
VSDA's Home Entertainment 2003 will be held July 29-31, 2003 at the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas.
Companies interested in exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities may contact Home Entertainment Events' Kimbirly Orr at [email protected] (mainstream companies) or Janet Gibson at [email protected] (adult companies). They may also be reached by phone at 1-800-854-3112.
