Based on Guest Comments by the Centre For Steinbeck Studies

SAN JOSE, California -- Academy Award-winning filmmaker and popular author Michael Moore has won the annual Steinbeck Award. This “In the Souls of the People” prize will be awarded at a ceremony on October 14.

The award goes to writers and artists capturing the spirit of 1962 Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck (1902-1968), known for his empathy, commitment to democratic values and belief in the dignity of people pushed to the fringes by circumstances. Steinbeck's best books include The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, and In Dubious Battle.

Past-winners of the Steinbeck Award form a “who's who of disturbers". Among them are Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez and Sean Penn.

“Courage is 75 per cent of art,” says author Thomas Steinbeck, the son of John Steinbeck. “Michael Moore is a courageous man. My father would have loved him. My father was the Michael Moore of his time.”

Moore responds, “I am truly grateful to the Steinbeck family and the Steinbeck Center for generous acknowledgment of my work. John Steinbeck's stories always have been a powerful inspiration to me. He believed a story could change the world and spent his life telling stories of the powerless and exploited. Through him, they had a voice. Today, we sadly still witness Grapes of Wrath.”

Moore's films include Capitalism: A Love Story, Roger and Me, Sicko, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. He has made four of the eight all-time top-grossing documentaries.

Born in Flint, Michigan, Moore became the state's youngest elected official at age 18. He lives near Traverse City, Michigan, and runs the non-profit Traverse City Film Festival.

In fact, the list of criteria for the John Steinbeck Award reads like Michael Moore's job description. He's a deserving winner.

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