THE NORMAN LEAR AWARD
Norman Lear
The Norman Lear Award is bestowed to film and television industry luminaries who have left a remarkable impact on popular culture by refusing to shy away from social commentary but rather made it an integral part of their work.
The inaugural award was bestowed to Norman Lear at the 45th Annual Humanitas Prizes event to celebrate his astounding contribution to film and television.
The industry would not be where it is today if it was not for Norman Lear’s ability to push the boundaries of what is “acceptable” on television.
Lear featured morally flawed characters as a tool, holding a mirror to society. His ability to make audiences feel uncomfortable made them aware of the absurdity of their own behavior and implicit bias. This made for a new kind of television. Television that inspired real conversations between people. Throughout his career, he has continued to utilize his voice to captivate audiences and further broaden society’s view of marginalized individuals.