“The Post,” director Steven Spielberg’s drama depicting the behind-the-scenes 1970s struggles of The Washington Post to obtain and publish the Pentagon Papers, will be honored Friday evening with the Los Angeles Press Club’s Veritas Award.
The award honors films that are based on or inspired by real people or events. It’s the third year the Press Club has presented the award. Director Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” was this year’s runner-up, according to the Press Club. Previous winners were “Spotlight” and “Hidden Figures.”
“It’s fitting that our members would choose `The Post’ for the Veritas Award,” said Press Club President Robert Kovacik, an anchor/reporter for NBC4. “This film shines a powerful light into our painful history while at the same time forcing us to confront the meaning of American democracy, the abuse of power and the importance of the free press.”
Meryl Streep, who stars in the film as Post publisher Katharine Graham, had been scheduled to attend the event and accept the honor, but Press Club officials said Friday she had to cancel her appearance. Screenwriter Liz Hannah and Daniel Ellsberg — the military analyst who released the Pentagon Papers — are expected to attend.
Spielberg and co-producers Amy Pascal and Kristie Macosko Krieger issued a joint statement when the award was announced saying they were “honored and thrilled” to receive it.
“The award title itself, `Veritas,’ represents why truth and freedom of the press are at the heart of our film and your oath as journalists,” they said.
—City News Service