Press Release
Published on September 15, 2017
New York City—Human Rights First today announced that its 2017 Sidney Lumet Award for Integrity in Entertainment will go to the Emmy award-winning Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale. The Lumet Award will be presented at the organization’s annual awards dinner on October 18 in New York City.
Each year the Sidney Lumet Award honors a work of popular culture that raises awareness about human rights and provokes discussion about some of the most pressing political and social issues of our time.
“At a time when the threat of authoritarianism and extremism is on the rise, The Handmaid’s Tale raises important questions about the fragility of democracy, personal responsibility, and how complacency, complicity, and fear can conspire to enable extremism,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino.
“The Handmaid’s Tale is a work of enduring relevance that is particularly resonant today. We hoped, in creating this TV adaptation, to explore the impact of oppressive government authority on the individual and the fight for agency in the midst of repression,” said The Handmaid’s Tale show runner Bruce Miller. “We’re thrilled to be recognized for our role in prompting that reflection and dialogue in America.”
The Handmaid’s Tale is a powerful and timely portrayal of a dystopian society where a theocratic regime seizes power, enslaves women, and makes homosexuality a capital crime. The series is based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood.
Human Rights First’s Sidney Lumet Award for Integrity in Entertainment Award, which honors the legacy of acclaimed writer and director Sidney Lumet, will be presented at the organization’s annual Human Rights Award Dinner in New York City on October 18, 2017. Previous recipients of the Lumet Award include: Eye in the Sky, HBO Documentaries, 12 Years a Slave, 42, Homeland, and The Good Wife.
