Dreamgirls Wins 4 Satellites; Breaks Box Office Record

The 11th Annual Satellite Awards, presented the International Press Academy, have been announced.

The film version of Dreamgirls won four awards, including Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, Actress in a Supporting Role for Jennifer Hudson, and Sound (Editing & Mixing).  Its director and adaptor, Bill Condon, tied with Flags of Our Fathers' Clint Eastwood as Director.

In addition, Dreamgirls recently broke a box office record as the highest per-screen opening in the history of the movie musical.  Now playing in limited release in 10-day roadshow screenings in L.A., San Francisco and New York, Dreamgirls has earned approximately $360,000 (averaging at about $120,000 per theatre), according to the New York Post.  Dreamgirls will open in wide release on Christmas Day. 

Helen Mirren won a Satellite Award for Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for The Queen, while Meryl Streep was honored as Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for her work in The Devil Wears Prada.

Other theatre veterans to win Satellite Award include playwright Peter Morgan (for Screenplay, Original - The Queen) and Bill Nighy (Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Gideon's Daughter).  The late film and theatre director Robert Altman was chosen as the winner of the The Auteur Award (In Memoriam).

Motion Picture, Drama was chosen as The Departed, while Volver won Motion Picture, Foreign Language. 

The International Press Academy is comprised of foreign and domestic journalists.  Visit www.pressacademy.com for more information and a full list of Satellite Award winners.