Colin Callender,the award-winning producer and president of HBO Films, is to receive theinaugural 2003 Ray-Ban Visionary Award in Park City on Jan 21. The accolade,which is being presented by Ray-Ban, US film magazine Movieline and non-profitpublic advocacy body The Creative Coalition, was established to recognise 'thework and dedication of an individual who possesses extraordinary passion,creativity and leadership, and whose work contains vision, imagination andoriginality'. After the presentation ceremony in Park City there will bea special performance by Liz Phair. Sydney Pollack, Billy Crystal, ForestWhitaker and Ridley Scott are among the list of industry veterans on the hostcommittee that will honor Callender.

The British-born producer is a pivotal figure in film andtelevision production. In 1996 he was the driving force behind the creation ofHBO NYC Productions, which went on to make 13 distinguished films, several ofwhich won Golden Globe and Emmy and awards. He was then promoted to presidentof HBO Original Movies, and later consolidated its two original moviedivisions, HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions, under the new banner of HBOFilms.

Prior to joining HBO in1987, Callender's production credits included the Emmy-winning 9-hourtelevision adaptation of the RSC's The Life and Adventures of NicholasNickleby and Peter Greenaway's TheBelly of an Architect. He executiveproduced Forest Whitaker's directorial debut, Strapped, and Allison Anders' Mi Vida Loca. At HBO Showcase, Callender oversaw 27 films, whichwon critical acclaim and some of HBO's highest ratings.