Hurt honored by Bradford Film Festival

The BBC said Saturday before being honored with the award at the March 18-28 festival in Bradford, England, Hurt spoke with the media about his career attempts to support independent films.

"It's been my constant fight all my life," Hurt, 70, said.

"All you can do is prepare the ground. You can't just say this is how it ought to be because you've got to create a public that actually enjoys it -- and therein lies the difficulties."

Presenting Hurt with his award at the National Media Museum event was BIFF artistic director Tony Earnshaw, who spoke about the actor's contributions to the entertainment industry.

"John Hurt has been leading man, supporting player and scene-stealer," Earnshaw said.

"Always he has breathed vivid life into believable, plausible and credible characters, often against a backdrop of fancy, whimsy or plain bafflement."

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