The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which held its fifth annual gala, 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 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.

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. 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. 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 event design was conceived by Keith Baptista with talent relations overseen by Special Projects. Thank you to the official partners of the Academy Museum. 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.