Hollywood Awards Gala will honor...

The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, co-chaired by Paul Haggis and presented by Starz, are pleased to announce honorees who will be recognized for their achievements at the festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place on October 27, 2008, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Multi-talented actor, director and producer Ben Stiller will be honored with the "Hollywood Comedy of the Year Award," Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei with the "Hollywood Supporting Actress of the Year Award," the Cast of Fox Searchlight's "The Secret Life of Bees" with the "Hollywood Ensemble Acting of the Year Award" and newcomer Robert Pattinson with the "New Hollywood Award."

The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Film Festival. Said Mr. de Abreu, "It is an honor to recognize the great work and talent of Ben Stiller, Marisa Tomei, the principal cast of "The Secret Life of Bees" and Robert Pattinson at this year's festival."

About Ben Stiller: Ben Stiller is a prolific actor, director, producer and writer who continues to imprint his unique perspective on film, television and stage. Stiller can currently be seen starring opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black in DreamWorks' "Tropic Thunder," an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. Stiller also co-wrote, directed and produced the film through his Red Hour Films production banner. In 2009, Stiller will be seen starring as Larry Daley in the upcoming 20th Century Fox comedy "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian," the sequel to the hit 2006 comedy "Night at the Museum."

About Marisa Tomei: Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei continues to prove her versatility in the upcoming film "The Wrestler" as the female lead opposite Mickey Roarke. The film is due for release from Fox Searchlight on December 19. Tomei received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the hit comedy, "My Cousin Vinny." Best known for rich comic performances, she took a dramatic turn with "In the Bedroom," earning her second Academy Award nomination. Tomei was most recently seen in "War, Inc." a political satire written by and starring John Cusack. She was also seen recently in Sidney Lumet's critically praised jewel heist drama, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," alongside Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman.