Hollywood icon — film director, producer and philanthropist Steven Spielberg has been named 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate.
Dubbed the ”Jewish Nobel,” by TIME magazine, the annual $1-million Genesis Prize honours extraordinary individuals for their outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and commitment to Jewish values.
The 74-year-old Spielberg is being recognized as one of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema, his social activism and prolific philanthropy, along with his stance against antisemitism and all forms of intolerance.
The Genesis Prize also acknowledges his efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and prevent future genocides through film, public advoacy and philanthropy.
”He is an example of great Jewish talent, whose extraordinary work … is infused with the values of his people — a quest for justice, compassion, humanism, and a heartfelt desire to make the world a better place,” said Isaac Herzog, Chair of the Genesis Prize Committee.