Forest Whitaker to receive Gotham Independent Film Awards tribute

Actor/producer/director Forest Whitaker, who won the best actor Oscar for the 2006 film “The Last King of Scotland” and is currently starring in the acclaimed “Lee Daniel’s The Butler,” will be presented with the Actor Tribute at the 23rd Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Whitaker, 52, will receive the honor at a ceremony Dec. 2 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.

“We are thrilled to pay honor to a man whose work has played a significant role in the film world over the last 25 years,” said Joana Vicente, executive director of the Independent Filmmaker Project, the advocacy organization for indie filmmakers that presents the awards.

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“Breaking boundaries and challenging audiences with complex, multifaceted roles, Forest Whitaker is a significant independent voice whose performances have only been elevated by his visionary work as a producer, director and humanitarian.”

Previous Gotham honorees include Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron and Kate Winslet.

The nominees for the Gotham Independent Film Awards will be announced Oct. 24.

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