Lionsgate Vice Chairman To Be Honored At Oscar Wilde Event

Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns will join Colin Farrell later this month in being honoured at the US-Ireland Alliance's "Oscar Wilde: Honouring the Irish in Film."
With Mr. Burns as Vice Chairman and Jon Feltheimer as CEO, Lionsgate has gone from strength to strength during his 13-year tenure. Shares in the Company hit an historic high last week and the stock price has more doubled since the acquisition of Summit Entertainment and the launch of the blockbuster THE HUNGER GAMES franchise a year ago. The Company's latest offering, WARM BODIES, grossed $20 million and ranked first at the domestic box office last weekend.
In welcoming Mr. Burns to the 21 February lineup at J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot, US-Ireland Alliance President Trina Vargo noted: "Along with the success of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise, Mr. Burns has been instrumental in the acquisition, production and distribution of successful films such as CRASH, winner of the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture, MONSTER'S BALL, for which Halle Berry won an Oscar, and PRECIOUS, for which Mo'Nique won an Oscar for her supporting role. Lionsgate's vibrant television business includes the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men" and critical sensations "Nurse Jackie" and "Weeds".
Reflecting Mr. Burns' conversance with the digital marketplace, Lionsgate has also been a leader in leveraging its content into fresh digital media initiatives including the Company's equity investment in leading viral content marketer Break Media and the 2009 launch of the premium entertainment channel EPIX with partners Viacom and MGM. Mr. Burns has also spearheaded several initiatives strengthening Lionsgate's capital structure, including the recent completion of a new five-year, $800 million revolving credit facility.
Mr. Burns recently re-upped for another five years with the Company.
Irish singer Julie Feeney joins Heathers and Declan O'Rourke in performing on the night. Feeney's self-produced album 'Clocks' went straight into the Independent Irish Album Charts at No. 1 and was voted 'Best Album' 2012 in The Irish Times 'Album of the Year' category. 'Clocks' has also been nominated for the Choice Music Prize 'Irish Album of The Year'. Her 2005 debut album, '13 Songs', won the Choice Music Prize in 2006, which was followed by 'Pages' in 2010, which was also shortlisted for the Irish Album of the Year prize. Her hit song 'Impossibly Beautiful' was recently placed in a major Irish TV commercial.
Among those planning to attend the event include legendary comedian, actor and writer Jerry Lewis. Mr. Lewis is currently filming, MAX ROSE, A Lightstream Pictures production produced by Lawrence Inglee and Irishman Garrett Kelleher. In his first leading role in nearly two decades, Mr. Lewis stars as the title character of a comedic drama about unconditional love. Others planning to attend are William Monahan, a former honoree who won an Oscar for his screenplay for THE DEPARTED ; John Moore, the Irish-born director of the upcoming A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD; Irish actor Jason O Mara; Oorlagh George who won an Oscar last year for the short live action film, THE SHORE, and Fodhla Cronin O Reilly who is Oscar nominated this year for her short animation HEAD OVER HILLS.
Major sponsors of the Oscar Wilde event are American Airlines and Accenture.
Follow the event on Twitter @OscarWildeLA13