LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which held its fifth annual gala tonight, raised over $12 million to support the museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives, and public programming, including screenings, K-12 programs, and access initiatives in service of the general public and the local community of Los Angeles. Dedicated to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking, the gala was generously presented in partnership with Rolex—Founding Supporter and Official Watch Partner of the Academy Museum. The company has been with the museum since the beginning. Its recognition of excellence and achievement in cinema is the basis of its long partnership with the Academy. The gala was co-chaired by Jon M. Chu; Common; Viola Davis and Julius Tennon; Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey; Jennifer Hudson; and Academy Museum Trustee Alejandro Ramírez Magaña.
The celebratory evening, commemorating the acclaimed museum’s four-year anniversary, was a star-studded affair that honored four Hollywood icons for their contributions to film both past and present. Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey kicked off the programming for the evening, introducing Director and President of the Academy Museum, Amy Homma, who welcomed guests to the special fundraiser event before introducing Academy Museum board chair Olivier de Givenchy who toasted the honorees of the evening. The first presenter of the night was Wim Wenders who presented director Walter Salles with the Luminary Award. The Vantage Award was presented by Jon M. Chu to actor and comedian Bowen Yang. After the dinner service, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon made their way to the stage to welcome the next presenter Zoe Saldaña, who presented the Icon Award to Academy Award®-winning actress Penélope Cruz. The final award, the inaugural Legacy Award, was presented by Martin Scorsese to Academy Award®-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Bruce Springsteen. Before the night was over, George Clooney introduced a special musical performance by Bruce Springsteen, where he closed out the evening singing “Streets of Philadelphia,” “Atlantic City,” and “Land of Hope and Dreams.”
The Vantage Award honors an emerging artist or scholar who is helping to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema. The Icon Award celebrates an artist whose career has had a significant global cultural impact. The Luminary Award is given to an artist whose singular contributions have expanded the creative possibilities of cinema. The inaugural Legacy Award honors an artist whose body of work has inspired generations of storytellers and deeply influenced our culture. The Icon, Legacy, Luminary, and Vantage Awards, designed by the Haas Brothers and fabricated by UAP, are solid cast bronze, hand polished, hand stamped, and triple plated in nickel, copper, and 24k gold.
The event was attended by some of Hollywood’s most prolific and notable actors, filmmakers, and industry executives as well as members of the event’s host committee who came together to support the museum. Guests included: Adam & Jackie Sandler, Addison Rae, Alana Haim, Alex Israel, Amanda Seyfried, Amelia Dimoldenberg, America Ferrera, Anna Kendrick, Annabelle Wallis, Archie Madekwe, Ari Emanuel, Ava DuVernay & Donovan Burns, Ayo Edebiri, Barry Jenkins, Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin, Benny Safdie, Bong Joon Ho, Cara Delevigne, Carolyn Murphy, Channing Tatum, Charli XCX, Charlie Hunnam, Chase Infiniti, Craig Brewer, Cristin Milioti, Dakota Fanning, Damson Idris, Danielle Haim, Diane Lane, Diego Boneta, Draymond &, Hazel Green, Dwayne Johnson, EJAE, Ed Sheeran, Édgar Ramírez, Edward Berger, Elizabeth Debicki, Ella Stiller, Elle Fanning, Emilie Livingston, Emily Ratajkowski, Emma Chamberlain, Este Haim, Eva Longoria & Pepe Baston, Eva Victor, Francesca Scorsese, Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade, Gael García Bernal, George Clooney, Grace Van Patten, Hailey Bieber, Hilary Duff, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Isla Fisher, Jackson White, Jaden Smith, Jared Harris, Jason Clarke, Jason Reitman & Lorraine Nicholson, Jennifer Hudson, Jeremy Allen White, Jessica Springsteen, Joel Edgerton, Joey King, Jon Hamm & Anna Osceola, Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Brad Hall, Kaia Gerber, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Bigelow, Kendall Jenner, Kerry Condon, Kerry Washington, Kim Kardashian, Kodi Smit McPhee, Kristen Wiig, LaKeith Stanfield, Laura Harrier, Law Roach, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Pace, Leslie Bibb, Lindsay Vonn, Logan Lerman, Lucy Liu, Lulu Wang, Macaulay Culkin & Brenda Song, Marlon Wayans, Martin Scorsese, Maude Apatow, Michelle Monaghan, Mikey Madison, Milly Alcock, Monica Barbaro, Naomi Watts & Billy Crudup, Nicholas Duvernay, Nicole Richie, Odessa Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Olivia Wilde, Orlando Bloom, Park Chan-wook, Patti Scialfa, Paul Tazewell, Quinta Brunson, Rachel Sennott, Rebeca Hall, Regina Hall, Regé-Jean Page, Renate Reinsve, Riley Keough, Rita Wilson, Role Model, Rose Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ryan Coogler, Sam Worthington, Sarah Staudinger, Scott Cooper, Sebastian Stan, Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco, Simu Liu, Sydney Sweeney, Ted Sarandos & Nicole Avant, Tom Blyth, Tyriq Withers, Will Arnett, Zoey Deutch.
The event design was conceived by Keith Baptista with talent relations overseen by Special Projects. Thank you to the official partners of the Academy Museum. Specialty cocktails provided by Tequila Don Julio. Wine provided by Clarendelle & Domaine Clarence Dillon. Champagne provided by Champagne Lallier. Sake provided by Dassai. The evening's food was prepared by guest chef Nancy Silverton and Wolfgang Puck Catering.
Now in its fifth year, the Academy Museum Gala is an annual fundraiser and celebration that reflects the museum’s mission to advance the understanding, celebration, and preservation of cinema and to expand knowledge and conversation about cinema as a global art form and cultural force.
