AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE TO HONOR BRADLEY COOPER WITH 32ND AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AWARD

The 32nd American Cinematheque Award Sponsored by GRoW @ Annenberg will be presented to four-time Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper at the Cinematheque’s annual benefit gala. The presentation will take place Thursday, November 29, 2018 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. The award presentation will be held in the International Ballroom and will include in-person tributes from some of Cooper’s colleagues and friends. Other show participants will be announced as they are confirmed in the coming months.

“The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Bradley Cooper as the 32nd recipient of the American Cinematheque award at our celebration this year," says American Cinematheque Chairman Rick Nicita. “Bradley Cooper is the modern-day equivalent of movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age — a leading man with the shapeshifting talents of a character actor. He is one of the few actors to be nominated for Academy Awards three years in a row for Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and American Sniper. He showed his comedic chops in The Hangover series, which is one of the highest grossing R-rated comedy franchises of all time, and has been acclaimed for his voiceover roles in mega-hits like the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Moving effortlessly to behind the camera, he co-wrote and directed and stars in A Star Is Born. While he has already worked with the greatest directors, actors, and actresses in the movie business and achieved the heights of commercial and critical success, his career is obviously moving to an even higher level of accomplishment. Bradley Cooper is an ideal honoree for the American Cinematheque’s 32nd annual award.”


“The American Cinematheque is grateful to Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, whose generous support through his philanthropic initiative GRoW @ Annenberg will help fund educational programs at the Cinematheque throughout the year,” said Nicita.

“The American Cinematheque helps foster an appreciation of filmmaking through their dynamic programming and historic theatre preservation,” said Weingarten, Annenberg Foundation Vice President and Director and founder of GRoW @ Annenberg, a philanthropic initiative he oversees at the Foundation. “I am pleased to support their educational programming, as well as their efforts to utilize the power of cinema to entertain and inspire Angelenos through this treasured art form.” GRoW @ Annenberg is dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts across the globe as well as innovative projects in health, education, the arts and civic AND cultural life.

Bradley Cooper was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Board of Directors selection committee. Since 1986, the organization has annually honored an extraordinary filmmaker in the entertainment industry, who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture. Funds raised benefit the year-round programming of the non-profit cultural organization, the American Cinematheque.

American Hustle

Cooper will make his directorial debut this fall with the upcoming re-imagination of A Star Is Born. Starring alongside Lady Gaga, Cooper produced (under his and Todd Phillips’ production company Joint Effort) and co-wrote the film which will be released by Warner Brothers on October 5th. Additional film credits include Avengers: Infinity War; Oscar-nominated films American Sniper, American Hustle, and Silver Linings Playbook; Derek Cianfrance’s critically-acclaimed The Place Beyond the Pines; The Hangover trilogy; Limitless; Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2; War Dogs; David O'Russell's Joy; Burnt; Wedding Crashers and Wet Hot American Summer. Television credits include Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Alias, Nip/Tuck, Kitchen Confidential, Jack & Bobby, and Sex and the City.

In 2015, Cooper garnered Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations for his portrayal of John Merrick in the five-time Tony nominated revival of The Elephant Man at the Booth Theater on Broadway, directed by Scott Ellis. He also performed this role during a six-week limited run of the play in London at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2015 and originally, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2012 (both also directed by Ellis). Other theater credits include: Joe Mantello’s production of Three Days of Rain (2006, Broadway Debut) and the critically-acclaimed Theresa Rebeck play The Understudy (2008, Williamstown Theatre Festival).

Born in Philadelphia, Cooper graduated with honors in the English program at Georgetown University. After moving to NYC, he obtained his Masters in the Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio Drama School.

American Sniper

The executive producers of the award show are Paul Flattery and Barbara Smith. Irene Crinita is the producer. Corrinne Mann is the event producer. Co-chairs and presenters of the event will be announced as they are confirmed.

Previous American Cinematheque Award honorees include: Eddie Murphy (1986); Bette Midler (1987); Robin Williams (1988); Steven Spielberg (1989); Ron Howard (1990); Martin Scorsese (1991); Sean Connery (1992); Michael Douglas (1993); Rob Reiner (1994); Mel Gibson (1995); Tom Cruise (1996); John Travolta (1997); Arnold Schwarzenegger (1998); Jodie Foster (1999); Bruce Willis (2000); Nicolas Cage (2001); Denzel Washington (2002); Nicole Kidman (2003); Steve Martin (2004); Al Pacino (2005); George Clooney (2006); Julia Roberts (2007); Samuel L. Jackson (2008); Matt Damon (2010); Robert Downey Jr. (2011); Ben Stiller (2012); Jerry Bruckheimer (2013); Matthew McConaughey (2014); Reese Witherspoon (2015); Ridley Scott (2016); and Amy Adams (2017). Please note that this event was formerly known as the Moving Picture Ball.

Hundreds of entertainment industry notables are expected to attend the Tribute. This annual event is the American Cinematheque’s most important benefit, providing funds for the non-profit film exhibition organization’s programs throughout the year and operation of the historic landmark Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard as well as the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on Montana Avenue.

Silver Linings Playbook

Established in 1981, the American Cinematheque is a non-profit viewer-supported film exhibition and cultural organization dedicated to the celebration of the Moving Picture in all of its forms. At the Egyptian Theatre, the Cinematheque presents daily film and video programming which ranges from the classics of American and international cinema to new independent films and digital work. Exhibition of rare works, special and rare prints, etc., combined with fascinating post-screening discussions with the filmmakers who created the work, are a Cinematheque tradition that keep audiences coming back for once-in-a-lifetime cinema experiences. The American Cinematheque renovated and reopened (on December 4, 1998) the historic 1922 Hollywood Egyptian Theatre This includes a state-of-the-art 616-seat theatre housed within Sid Grauman’s first grand movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. The exotic courtyard is fully restored to its 1922 grandeur. The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922.

In early 2005 the American Cinematheque expanded its programming to the Westside with the January 5th opening of the 1940 Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.

Both theatres play host to an array of industry guests who share their filmmaking experiences with our audiences.

Tickets to the Cinematheque Tribute, an elegant black-tie dinner followed by a multi-media award presentation start at $600. Call Mann Productions for tickets and further information: 323.314.7000.