CinemaCon 2012: Tim Burton Makes Appearance to Honor Timur Bekmambetov

LAS VEGAS—Tim Burton appeared Monday at CinemaCon to present Timur Bekmambetov, who is directing and producing the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, with the International Filmmaker of the Year Award.

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“I can’t imagine a better director to make a movie about an American president than a Russian,” joked Burton, who also is producing the 3D action adventure Abraham Lincoln along with Jim Lemley. Twentieth Century Fox will release the film on June 22.

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Accepting the award, Bekmambetov said of the movie: “It is very unusual. It is not a sequel; it is not a prequel. It stands alone … about a great man who changed the world in the 19th century.”

Bekmambetev has directed some of the highest grossing Russian films, including Night Watch and Day Watch. His Hollywood directorial debut was Wanted, featuring Angelina Jolie. As a producer, Bekmambetev’s credits including Shane Acker’s 9 and The Darkest Hour, starring Emile Hirsch.

A clip reel featured a string of messages to the director, including those from actors Dominic Cooper and Benjamin Walker, of Abraham Lincoln; and James McAvoy from Wanted.