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On November 11, 2003 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, Americans for the Arts honored Sofia Coppola with the Young Artist Award for Artistic Excellence, as part of their annual National Arts Award gala, co-chaired by Veronica Hearst, Agnes Gund, and Eli Broad.  

Each year, the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) honors notable artists for their work, and commend philanthropists who have made contributions to the arts. AFTA has formed a multi-year partnership with The Film Foundation for the purpose of recognizing film as an art form, as well as increasing funding opportunities for film preservation. Through this new alliance, The Film Foundation selected filmmaker Sofia Coppola to be honored for her remarkable accomplishments.

On October 7, The Film Foundation and Vanity Fair co-hosted Reel Talk with director Gary Ross and actors Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges, discussing their creative collaboration, SEABISCUIT (2003), and the films that have inspired their work. 

Films discussed included: MANHATTAN (1979, d. Woody Allen), LENNY (1974, d. Bob Fosse), NETWORK (1976, d. Sidney Lumet), DR. STRANGELOVE (1964, d. Stanley Kubrick), and THE GOLD RUSH (1925, d. Charlie Chaplin).  The evening was moderated by New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell.  
 

The Film Foundation and Vanity Fair Magazine co-hosted a special evening that celebrated the art and history of film. Surrounding Vanity Fair’s 20th Anniversary Celebration,  the event took place on September 18, 2003, at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.  The program was the first in a series of events in which the two organizations will collaborate, to increase the visibility of film as an art form and raise awareness of the important and urgent need for film preservation.

The evening featured a discussion with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, moderated by Robert Rosen, Chair of The Film Foundation’s Archivists Advisory Council. The program included films selected by Grazer and Howard -- BLAZING SADDLES (1974, d. Mel Brooks), SCARFACE (1983, d. Brian de Palma), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975, d. Miloš Forman), BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967, d. Arthur Penn), and THE GRADUATE (1967, d. Mike Nichols) -- and explored the impact the films have had on these celebrated filmmakers.  

Picture: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Robert Rosen at the Reel Talk event in Los Angeles.

The Film Foundation’s Artists Rights Council member and long time supporter Tom Cruise attended this year’s Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Installation Luncheon & Annual Presentation of Charitable Donations on July 30, and accepted the HFPA’s $150,000 contribution on behalf of The Film Foundation.  Preservation/restoration projects which will benefit from the HFPA’s generous 2003 contribution include ERASERHEAD (1977, d. David Lynch), FACES (1968, d. John Cassavetes), and a collection of Early Silent-Era Italian Films from 1910-1920 at the Library of Congress.

Picture: Tom Cruise and HFPA president Lorenzo Soria at the 2003 Hollywood Foreign Press Association Installation Luncheon