The Coolidge Award, given annually to film folks whose work ”advances the spirit of original and challenging cinema,” will be presented this year to Meryl Streep. Nominated for an Oscar a record 13 times, the actress is the third recipient of the award, following Chinese director Zhang Yimou in 2004 and Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro last year. Streep, whose latest film is an adaptation of Garrison Keillor’s radio show, ”A Prairie Home Companion,” will be in Boston to accept the award April 5-6. Susan Orlean, whose book ”The Orchid Thief” was the basis for the movie ”Adaptation,” in which Streep starred, said the actress isn’t typically interested in being celebrated. ”I’d e-mailed her and she reacted very favorably right away,” said Orlean, who’s on the Coolidge board. ”She can’t stand the rubber-chicken dinner thing where you’re treated like you’re dead. This is an interesting way to explore movies, and not some kind of creepy Jerry Lewis telethon.”
