Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.flaunt.com
It’s reasonable to assume that the magic of cinema rests in the making of cinema itself—Guadagnino’s steady hand behind the 35mm camera, Jesse Buckley’s cascade of tears in cathartic monologues, Lynch’s dreamy, vocational genius. Film’s sheer—perhaps magnanimous—power to communicate the visual lengths to which our civilizations articulate meaning is nothing short of obvious. But, when human creativity comes into confrontation with artificiality—when a value for fast-paced content absorption scrolls and scrolls our appreciation for long-form storytelling into an abyss of neglect—how can cinema’s power be renunciated?
The answer is short and sweet: community.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures held its sixth annual, star-studded gala. As a celebration of film ornamented in celebrity, cocktail conversation, and musical performance, the event’s glamour and quintessential esteem should not be mistaken for its true philanthropic impetus. In an attempt to preserve the Academy Museum’s tradition of presenting accessible, world-class film exhibitions and educational opportunities to diverse audiences of all ages in Los Angeles, the Hollywood community came together to raise over $14 million to support community initiatives and public programming efforts—efforts which exclaim and defend the indispensability of film today.
Co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg, and Kate Capshaw, the gala committee generously partnered with Rolex—the Founding Supporter and Official Watch Partner of the Academy Museum—to commemorate an evening embellished in the myriad achievements and trailblazers of cinematic artistry. Director and President of the Academy Museum and Academy Collection, Amy Homma, opened the night alongside trustee Olivier de Givenchy, toasting to the institution’s mission in expanding access to film history education for the surrounding metropolitan area. Oscar®-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis then took the stage to articulate the extensive history and thrilling impact of the horror genre, foregrounding the museum’s newest exhibition, The Horror Show.
The night also honored three artists for their invaluable contributions to modern cinema. Robert Rodriguez presented filmmaker and composer John Carpenter with the Luminary Award. Sigourney Weaver presented Oscar®-winning actress Charlize Theron with the Icon Award for her career’s significant global impact. And Tom Ford presented two-time Oscar®-nominated actor Colman Domingo with the Vantage Award—an award dedicated to an artist who is pushing the envelope against dominant narratives in film. Taylor Swift closed the celebration by strumming the night away with her beloved singer-songwriter prowess. Other pioneers and trendsetters in attendance included Amanda Seyfried, Alexa Demie, Emma Chamberlain, Owen Thiele, Tinashe, and many, many more.
With so many powerhouse figures in support of the museum’s annual fundraiser, it is public displays of community as such that help advance understanding—that amplify to a larger platform the importance of cinema as a cultural staple in conceptualizing, then celebrating, the stories of our contemporary selves.
