A CONVERSATION WITH PAUL SIMON

Simon was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011, and in 2012 named laureate of the prestigious Polar Music Prize along with Yo-Yo Ma. In 2019, Paul Simon was the first musician to be presented the Great Americans Medal by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. His song “Mrs. Robinson,” from the film THE GRADUATE, was named in the top ten of the AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Songs.

Paul Simon’s philanthropic work includes the co-founding of the Children’s Health Fund, which brings health care to low-income children and their families around the United States. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, which is committed to stopping the species extinction crisis through conservation. Over his career, Simon has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes, and in 2018 made a $1 million gift to the NYC Department of Education and Fund for Public Schools, to invest in music and art programs.

Moderated by David Fear, a senior editor and film critic at Rolling Stone, and the former film editor of Time Out NY. His work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The Village Voice, Esquire, Spin, New York Daily News, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Moviemaker, Nashville Weekly, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn, as all writers must.

• IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON, from Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, will screen as the HIFF Centerpiece on Friday, October 6.

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