HOLLYWOOD – The Publicists of the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG), IATSE Local 600, will present comedian and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel with its President’s Award at the 63rd ICG Publicists Awards luncheon on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The President’s Award is presented only on occasion of extraordinary circumstances. The Publicists of the ICG chose to bestow this rare honor on Kimmel in recognition of his strength of character, his resilience, and his unwavering adherence to principle in the face of adversity.
“We’re thrilled to present this award to Jimmy Kimmel whose return to the air meant so
much to his audience and whose presence at the International Cinematographers Guild
Publicists Awards means so much to us,” says John Lindley, ASC, National President of the ICG. “He stood by his staff and crew during his suspension, and we celebrate his commitment to his work and to his team.”
Kimmel is the host and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
With more than two decades on the air, Kimmel is the longest-running current late-night television host in the United States. He has hosted the Academy Awards® four times and the Primetime Emmy Awards® three times.
In September 2025, ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in response to comments made during his monologue, a move widely regarded as politically-motivated censorship. Kimmel stood firm on his right to free expression and the show went live again after a six day suspension.
Previous recipients who have earned the distinction of an ICG President’s Award include Nanci Ryder, legendary Publicist and ALS activist; Public Relations Executive Cheryl Boone Isaac, who later served as the 35th President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS); and Executive Producer Linda Bell Blue, in recognition of her two decades of excellence on “Entertainment Tonight.”
For more details about the 2026 ICG Publicists Awards, visit: www.icg600.com/about-us/awards/publicists-awards
ABOUT THE ICG PUBLICISTS AWARDS:
Entertainment publicists first formed a union in 1937 as the Screen Publicists Guild, later becoming the Publicists Guild. In 2002, the Publicists Guild merged with the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600). The first Publicists Awards Luncheon was held in 1964 and has since grown to an event attended annually by some 800 publicists, press, motion picture and television industry leaders, and other IATSE leaders. Motion Picture and Television Showperson Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards have been bestowed upon numerous esteemed actors, directors and executives. Additional awards include the Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Award for a Television Campaign and for a Motion Picture Campaign, Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity, Bob Yeager Award for Community Service, Publicist of the Year, Press Award, International Media Award and Excellence in Unit Still Photography for both Motion Pictures and for Television. The Guild also publishes the annual ICG Publicists Membership Directory.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHERS GUILD (ICG) IATSE LOCAL 600:
The International Cinematographers Guild represents approximately 9,000 members who work on feature films, television, streaming, commercials, news broadcast, documentaries and industrials as directors of photography, visual effects supervisors, camera operators, camera assistants, loaders, utilities, still photographers, digital imaging technicians, video controllers and publicists. The first cinematographers union was established in New York in 1926, followed by unions in Los Angeles and Chicago, but it wasn’t until 1996 that Local 600 was born as a national guild. In addition to its work organizing, bargaining and enforcing contracts, advocating for legislation that serves working families, training and mentorship, ICG’s ongoing events include the Emerging Cinematographer Awards and the ICG Publicists Awards Luncheon.
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