Update September 13, 11am.
Wearing an elegant, floor-length white dress, actor and humanitarian Sharon Stone accepted a Global Citizen Award on the Film Center stage at the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 9. Vineyard Haven metal and glass sculptor Barney Zeitz presented Ms. Stone with a small metal sculpture specially made for the award. A Q and A session followed with Ms. Stone and Film Center executive director and founder Richard Paradise, audience members, and journalists.
Ms. Stone has focused on documentary filmmaking in recent years, and her film short, “An Undeniable Voice,” screened on Saturday, Sept. 10, as part of the Juried Competition of International Shorts program. Directed by Price Arana with Adam Rothlein, the film tells the story of Sam Harris, believed to be the youngest Holocaust survivor. In interviews with Ms. Stone, Mr. Harris describes his experience as a Jew imprisoned by the Nazis. The film supplements his narration with graphic photos and footage.
Ms. Stone met Mr. Harris through Ms. Arana, who grew up next door to him in Northbrook, Ill. “Nobody knew I was a Holocaust survivor until I was about 55,” he said. His book, “Sammy: Child Survivor of the Holocaust,” recounts his experiences from the age of 4, when he and his family were rounded up.
After sailing to America under the auspices of the Chicago Jewish Children’s Bureau, he was adopted, and his name was changed from Szlamek Rezezvik. Mr. Harris was instrumental in creating the Illinois Holocaust Museum, and serves as president emeritus of its Education Center. In 2014, he won the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and he speaks to thousands annually about the Holocaust.
Ms. Stone also produced the Emmy-nominated documentary “Brave Miss World,” about the rape of 1998 beauty pageant winner Linor Abargil. Ms. Stone’s other films include “My Name Is Water,” another Holocaust film; “Femme,” featuring interviews with 100 women about saving the world; and “Invocation,” about how people pray. “We’re in it for the money and prestige,” she joked about making documentaries.
Ms. Stone spoke at length about her humanitarian work, much of which has been in support of AIDS research. She has headed the American Foundation for AIDS Research for 20 years. She took up the cause during the early stages of AIDS awareness in the U.S., when even talking about it was taboo. “My publicist said it would destroy my career, and it did,” the actress said, although it’s clear that’s not entirely the case.
On the other hand, actor Michael Douglas called Ms. Stone the best fundraiser he has ever known. “I can sell ice to an Eskimo,” Ms. Stone said. She said former President Bill Clinton was very committed to the cause of AIDS, and Hillary Clinton continues to be.
The actor is best known for her performance in “Basic Instinct” (1992), director Paul Verhoeven’s Oscar-nominated film in which she played a femme fatale. Most recently, she worked with Steven Soderbergh on an interactive TV movie, “Mosaic,” to be released next year, and “Running Wild,” about a widow who works with convicts to rehabilitate wild horses.
Ms. Stone has visited Martha’s Vineyard many times. “I love Martha’s Vineyard,” she said, “ever since playing chess with Art Buchwald.”