Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel presented an honorary award to Hollywood actor Jon Voight for his contribution to the cooperation between Bulgaria and the USA
02 November 2023 News
"The Bulgarian community on the West Coast of the USA inspires with talent and success"
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel presented in Los Angeles the honorary award in this year's edition of the Bulgarian Awards for Contribution to Art, Culture, Education and Science.
"On the Day of the National Enlighteners we pay tribute to the founders and guardians of Bulgarian spirituality, language and culture. I am glad that the Bulgarian Awards for Contribution to Art, Culture, Education and Science are awarded on this day. Let the awards become a tradition, let them unite, inspire and bring more and more friends of Bulgaria together," Mariya Gabriel stressed.
The award honours and recognizes prominent individuals (Bulgarians and foreigners) from the West Coast community for their contributions to Bulgarian art, culture, education and science. The initiator of the idea is Boyko Hristov, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Los Angeles. The awards are organized by BgFace - Bulgarian Foundation for Art, Culture and Education and supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Los Angeles.
This year's winners in the four categories — art, culture, education and science — are respectively pianist Milen Kirov, the chairman of the Bulgarian Cultural Center "Ripni Kalinke" Sanya Kirova, the First Bulgarian School "Vasil Levski" in Las Vegas and architect prof. Ivan Tashev.
The honorary award for contribution to the cultural and artistic relations between the USA and Bulgaria was presented by Mariya Gabriel to the popular American actor John Voight. He has won a number of awards, including an Academy Award for Leading Actor, several Golden Globes and a BAFTA Award.
"You have won a number of prestigious awards of the highest level. It is a pleasure to present the Bulgarian award for contribution to the rapprochement between Bulgaria and the USA. I congratulate you for your achievements and assure you that you are part of the people we call friends of Bulgaria", with these words Mariya Gabriel handed the award to Voight.
"I will treasure this award and look forward to continuing to do more projects in Bulgaria," John Voight said.
The event was attended by more than 200 official guests, including director Stefan Komandarev and members of the Academy for the prestigious Academy Award. The ceremony ended with the presentation of the trailer of the Bulgarian Oscar nomination — the movie "The Lessons of Blaga".
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