Publicists Guild to Debut 'Exceptional Merit' Award in LA

HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The International Cinematographers Guild Publicists plans to debut its new award -- The Henri Bollinger Award -- at the 56th annual International Cinematographers Guild's Publicists Awards Luncheon on Feb. 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the ICG Publicists Awards announced Feb. 12.

The award, named after the renowned award-winning entertainment industry publicist Henri Bollinger, will be presented to Bollinger posthumously as the first recipient. His wife Sandy will accept on his behalf.

The ICG Publicists Awards celebrate excellence in publicity and promotion for motion pictures and television programs. The new Henri Bollinger Award will be bestowed in future years to recognize a person who epitomizes the definition of special merit in the field of entertainment. More than 900 industry leaders are expected to attend this year's luncheon, which traditionally occurs the week leading up to the Academy Awards.

Bollinger served for more than 55 years on the Publicists Awards Committee and chaired the annual awards for over 37 years. He was a publicist for 60 years and was president and founding member of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (EPPS); served on the Foreign Film Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; chaired the Communications Committee of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum; served on the Public Relations Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; chairman of the Publications and Publicity Committee of the International Cinematographers Guild and a member of its National Executive Board; and president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Director and actor Dennis Dugan will host this year's awards.

City News Service contributed to this report/Image via Wikimedia Commons