WASHINGTON D.C. – Oscar®-nominated Melissa McCarthy will receive the “CinemaCon® Female Star of the Year Award” at this year’s CinemaCon, that was announced today by the convention’s Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the largest and most important convention for the motion picture theatre industry, will be held from April 15-18, 2013 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas at which time more than 5,000 industry members will be gathering. McCarthy will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, April 18, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.
“With an incredible comedic timing that has had audiences around the world falling out of their seats laughing, Melissa McCarthy has proven to be the new queen of comedy,” noted Neuhauser. “With the upcoming release of “The Heat,’ and her most recent releases ‘Identity Thief’ and ‘Bridesmaids,’ she has continued to prove that she is the actress to watch in Hollywood. We could not be more thrilled to be able to honor her as this year’s ‘CinemaCon Female Star of the Year.’”
McCarthy will star later this summer in the 20th Century Fox release “The Heat.” Releasing on June 28, 2013, McCarthy stars as foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins opposite Sandra Bullock as uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn. The two law enforcement officials couldn’t be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies. “The Heat” also stars Michael Rappaport, Tom Wilson, Tony Hale, Joey McIntyre, Marlon Wayans, Taran Kilam, Kaitlin Olsen, Bill Burr and Nate Coordy. The film is directed by Paul Feig, who also directed “Bridesmaids.”
“I have now had the honor to direct Ms. McCarthy in two films and am hoping to direct every frame of film she appears in from now until the sun swells and consumes the Earth,” said Feig. “I have also officially filed adoption papers to make Ms. McCarthy my daughter. That’s how wonderful she is. She also smells like very expensive flowers.”
McCarthy first made her mark on the comedy stage performing stand-up in New York and received dramatic training from The Actors Studio before spending nine years as a main-stage member of The Groundlings in Los Angeles. She is currently starring in the box office hit “Identity Thief” alongside Jason Bateman. Her standout role as Megan in the smash hit comedy “Bridesmaids” garnered her Oscar®, BAFTA, Critics Choice and SAG Award nominations and she received the 2012 MTV Movie Award for Comedic Performance of the Year. She currently stars on the CBS top-rated comedy “Mike & Molly” for which she earned an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy.” Her additional feature film work includes: “This is 40,” “The Back-Up Plan,” “Life As We Know It” and “Pretty Ugly People.” On television, she previously starred in “Gilmore Girls” and “Samantha Who?” This summer, McCarthy will shoot the lead role in and serve as producer of the film “Tammy,” which she co-wrote with her actor/writer husband Ben Falcone, who will direct the film.
About CinemaCon:
CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry –from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.
CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. Cinemacon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.
About NATO:
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.
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