Australian Academy revokes Harvey Weinstein award offer

The Australian Academy has revoked an award it had intended to give scandal-hit producer Harvey Weinstein in 2013, but which was never presented.

Weinstein was named as the first recipient of an outreach award at a time when the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) was stepping up its international profile, reports variety.com.

"In November 2013, AACTA announced Weinstein as the inaugural AACTA International Fellowship recipient in acknowledgment of his support of independent and innovative filmmaking.

"This award was, in fact, never actually presented. The event planned for the presentation was cancelled. However, our communications in 2013/2014 did not make it clear that Weinstein no longer held the award and has rightly caused some confusion. We have now officially rescinded the offer of the award," AACTA said in a statement.

"(We) stand with our associates, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science in America, in exploring what we can do to further protect both our members and those in the wider screen industry."

While AACTA is distancing itself from the Weinstein scandal, a Weinstein-produced Australian co-produced film "Lion" heads the nominations for this year's AACTA Awards. The awards will be presented in Sydney on December 6.

--IANS

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