Anthony Anderson Slated To Receive Top Honor At North Fork TV Festival

Anthony Anderson will receive the top award at the 11th annual North Fork TV Festival later this month.

The Canopy Award will be given to the Emmy-nominated actor, producer and TV host on October 22 at a ceremony in Greenport, NY, on the north coast of Long Island about two hours east of New York City. He will also talk about his career and take audience questions. The island’s north fork is less flashy than the Hamptons, a series of towns along the south end of the island, but has become a culture-rich draw for a number of entertainment industry professionals.

Programming at the festival, which runs October 21 and 22, will include screenings and panels with Kelsey Grammer, Melissa Navia, Kelly AuCoin and others to be named. Topics will include creative and business themes as well as technology, with established TV industry figures being joined by emerging independent creators.

Anderson has received 11 Emmy nominations, including seven consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Andre “Dre” Johnson on ABC’s black-ish. His TV and film credits include Law & Order, The Departed, Transformers, Barbershop and G20. He also has hosted the Emmys and ABC’s To Tell the Truth.

Previous Canopy Award honorees include Grammer, Christopher Meloni, Marcia Gay Harden, J. Smith-Cameron, Jeremy Sisto.

“Anthony Anderson has built an extraordinary career across television, film, comedy, producing and hosting, while consistently bringing his talent, humor and perspective to audiences around the world,” festival founder Noah Doyle said in a statement. “His impact on television and his commitment to storytelling make him a fitting recipient of this year’s Canopy Award.”