"Bernardo Bertolucci" by Associazione Culturale Cinemazero from Pordenone, Italia - Bernardo Bertolucci 030. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.On Sunday, December 14th, the Dalai Lama presented the Peace Summit Award to Italian film director Bernardo Bertolucci. The award is an annual honor bestowed upon a person from the arts world who has worked for social justice and peace. Previous winners include Sean Penn, Sharon Stone and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens).
The Dalai Lama presented the award at the closing of the Nobel Peace Laureate’s summit, which was held over the weekend in Rome. His Holiness held the microphone while Bertolucci gave his acceptance speech, in which he praised 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and advocated awareness for those who are wheelchair-bound.
Bertolucci’s 1987 film, The Last Emperor, won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture and Best Director. Bertolucci also directed the 1993 film Little Buddha.
