Nathan Lane to Receive Ustinov Comedy Award at Banff World Media Festival

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced that Nathan Lane will be presented with the prestigious Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at the 35th annual Festival, being held June 8-11, 2014. The Award recognizes a creative talent that has made an outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry. Past honorees include Ricky Gervais, Tracey Ullman, Chuck Lorre, Martin Short, and 2013 recipient Craig Ferguson.

Over the past four decades, Nathan Lane's diverse career has spanned across television, film, and theater. Though he began in stand-up comedy, Lane quickly parlayed his comedic voice into memorable Broadway roles including Bad Habits, Love! Valour! Compassion!, and his two Tony Award-winning turns in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forumand The Producers. Lane's big mainstream break came in 1996 with The Birdcage, a tremendous success co-starring Robin Williams. This scene-stealing performance led to many unforgettable guest appearances on television, including Emmy Award-nominated roles on Frasier, Mad About You, Modern Family, and The Good Wife.

"My career has afforded me many great opportunities that I never could have dreamed of," said Lane. "I'm very grateful to be recognized for my accomplishments, and to now have my name included amongst previous Ustinov Award recipients who I've admired and respected for many years."

"Nathan Lane is an incredibly beloved and accomplished comedic performer," said Ferne Cohen, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. "We are so pleased to have him at BANFF and look forward to honouring him with the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award during this year's Rockies."

Lane will accept the honour at the annual Rockie Awards Gala taking place on Tuesday June 10th, a star-studded event that celebrates some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Lane will also be featured in a one-on-one interview at BANFF, giving delegates an unprecedented opportunity to hear directly from the remarkable performer about his celebrated career.

For more information about The Banff World Media Festival, please visit the website at http://www.banffmediafestival.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Banff World Media Festival is the world's largest and most important gathering of entertainment industry and digital media executives dedicated to media content production, broadcast and distribution within TV and digital media. BANFF provides a platform for the evolving media industry to develop its creative and business objectives, serves as the leading destination for co-production and co-venture partners and is an unparalleled destination for more than 2000 international decision-makers to meet, learn and do business. The 35thannual Banff World Media Festival will take place June 8-11, 2014 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada. For more information, visit: www.banffmediafestival.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos