Press: American Cinematheque Gala - Honoring Julia Roberts - October 2007

American Cinematheque Gala - Honoring Julia Roberts - October 2007

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JULIA ROBERTS TO RECEIVE 22nd AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AWARD AT GALA TRIBUTE ON OCTOBER 12 AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL

Tribute to Air Exclusively on AMC December 5, 2007

Hollywood – The 22nd American Cinematheque Award will be presented to Academy Award winner Julia Roberts at the Cinematheque’s annual benefit gala, American Cinematheque Board chairman Rick Nicita announced today. The presentation takes place Friday, October 12, 2007 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom in Beverly Hills.

"The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Julia Roberts at our celebration this year," Rick Nicita. Julia Roberts is a true movie star who has delighted audiences and critics in so many pictures, from her first screen appearance in "MYSTIC PIZZA" through mega-hits like "PRETTY WOMAN" and "RUNAWAY BRIDE" to her Academy Award-winning performance in "ERIN BROCKOVICH" and many, many more. Moviegoers are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the career of this beloved actress and we are looking forward to thanking her for all that she's already given us.

Roberts was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Board of Directors selection committee, which since 1986, has annually honored an extraordinary artist (actor, director or writer) 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.

"AMC will once again provide our viewers with front row seats to one of the greatest Hollywood events of the year," stated Charlie Collier, Executive Vice President and General Manager of AMC.  "The American Cinematheque is great time to come together each year and celebrate the great actors of our generation.   Early on, it was clear that Julia Roberts was destined to become a Hollywood icon and we are thrilled to be part of this career honor and tribute."

“AMC is proud to recognize Julia Roberts as this year's  American Cinematheque Award honoree,'” stated Rob Sorcher, AMC's Executive Vice President of Programming and Production.  “For the past five years, AMC has joined American Cinematheque to celebreate the career of Hollywood's greatest actors, who have transcended time and type to create timeless characters and tomorrow's classic films. Julia Roberts is such an actor and this year's Awards promise to be a special evening for AMC's viewers.” 

AMC will air the tribute December 5, 2007. The network has been the exclusive broadcast partner of the annual event since 2003.

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

Julia Roberts will soon be reunited with her CLOSER director Mike Nichol’s in the upcoming film CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR alongside actor Tom Hanks. Recently, she made her Broadway debut in Richard Greenberg’s "Three Days of Rain." Roberts and Red Om Films have produced MONA LISA SMILE, in which she also appeared, executive produced Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure and most recently, Molly: An American Girl on the Homefront. Roberts can also be heard as the voice of Charlotte in CHARLOTTE’S WEB and also appeared in OCEAN’S TWELVE, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Previously she appeared in George Clooney’s directorial debut CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND and FULL FRONTAL, her third role in a Steven Soderbergh film. She received the Academy Award® and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich, directed by Soderbergh. In addition, she starred in last year’s ensemble crime caper, Ocean’s Eleven, also under his direction.

Erin Brockovich followed the success of two box-office smashes: Notting Hill, directed by Roger Michell in which she co-starred with Hugh Grant and Runaway Bride, in which she was reunited with Richard Gere, her Pretty Woman co-star and their director, Garry Marshall.

Roberts also starred in The Mexican, with her Ocean’s Eleven co-star Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini and America’s Sweethearts, in which she starred alongside Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack and Hank Azaria.

Roberts has starred in many of Hollywood’s most successful films. She first came to the attention of audiences with her critically acclaimed role in Mystic Pizza, and then in Steel Magnolias, which led to her first Academy Award® nomination. Her next film, Pretty Woman, was the top-grossing film of 1990 and brought Roberts her second Academy Award® nomination. Her memorable performance in that film was followed by a series of notable films including Flatliners, Sleeping with the Enemy, Dying Young, The Pelican Brief, and Something to Talk About.

In 1997, Roberts starred in the box-office smash My Best Friend’s Wedding, directed by P.J. Hogan and the Richard Donner directed thriller Conspiracy Theory co-starring Mel Gibson. Following, Roberts starred opposite Susan Sarandon and Ed Harris in the Chris Columbus film, Stepmom. Collectively, her films have grossed more than two and a half billion dollars worldwide.

Eddie Murphy received the first American Cinematheque Award in 1986. Previous honorees are as follows: 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) and George Clooney (2007).

One thousand 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.

Tickets to the Cinematheque Tribute, an elegant black-tie dinner followed by a multi-media award show start at $550. Call Mann Productions for further information at 323.314.7000. Please note that this event was formerly known as the Moving Picture Ball.

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 which celebrates its 85^th anniversary this year. 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 1940 Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

About AMC

AMC is a multi-platform network that celebrates classic movies and high-quality scripted series. Among the elite services reaching over 91,000,000 homes, AMC defines what it means to be a classic movie network today, creating a distinctive viewing experience that celebrates all that is enduringly cool, personal and powerfully relevant about movies.  AMC's comprehensive library of popular movies strike a meaningful chord with its audience, and its critically-acclaimed slate of originals all have a cinematic quality that allow them to complement and be complemented by some of the best movies of all time. A division of Rainbow Media Entertainment Services, AMC's sister divisions include WE tv and the IFC Companies. AMC is THE FUTURE OF CLASSIC.