Noted activist, actor, writer, director, singer and all-around renaissance man Alan Cumming was honored by the Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 18 as the first recipient of its OUTrageous Award for Artistic Achievement. Cumming walked the red carpet, chatting with a host of journalists and greeting fans before festival founder and artistic director Michael Kutza presented the openly gay entertainer with the honor before a sold-out, preview screening of The Tempest at the AMC River East Theatres. Kutza cited Cumming’s creative choice of roles and passionate advocacy for a number of causes as just two reasons for his being named the inaugural recipient of the award. “You should call this the Queeries award,” Cumming commented with a laugh in accepting the honor. Richard Knight, Jr., Windy City Times’ film critic and founder/president of the Queer Film Society, introduced the evening and conducted a lively Q&A with the actor following the screening, covering everything from Cumming’s role in The Tempest, which stars Helen Mirren (opening Dec. 15), to working with Cher in Burlesque, his devoted commitment to gay rights and more. Knight’s interview with Cumming will be featured in an upcoming issue of WCT. Photos by Bob Dowey
Alan Cumming gets OUTrageous
