Irwin Young’s influence reaches so far and wide it would be difficult to affix him with a singular identity within the New York film community.
Although his day job is chair of DuArt Laboratories, it’s for his role as “champion of independent film and young independent filmmakers,” according to the DGA, that the guild is honoring him tonight.
Young says he responded with “delightful shock,” adding that “I come from a film family, and to work in film is the greatest honor of all.”
Young’s ties to the biz dates back to WWI when his father began cutting films and, after working briefly in Hollywood, launched DuArt Film in New York.
While serving on various boards, including those of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the New York State Council of the Arts, Young also produced such indie fare as “Alambrista!” (1977) and “Caught” (1996), both directed by his brother, Robert.
Young has lent his lab to various filmmakers and helped Michael Moore on his first doc, “Roger and Me.”
“If someone came to me with an idea and I felt it was a valuable one,” Young says, “I felt I should risk my services and help them make that movie.”
