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Apr 06, 2011
The Los Angeles County Museum of
Art (LACMA) announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Film
Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards
and the Los Angeles Film Festival. As a
result of the museum’s analysis and strategic planning process (funded by the
Hollywood Foreign Press Association) over the past year around its current film
program, Film Independent was identified as an ideal partner for its film
series. The collaboration combines
LACMA’s efforts in presenting film within an encyclopedic art historical
context with Film Independent’s strong relationships with filmmakers and
expertise in building audiences and developing programs for a wide spectrum of
films. The partnership is effective
immediately, with new programming to begin in September 2011.
LACMA and Film Independent are also
thrilled to have The New York Times as the sole Presenting Sponsor of the new
Film Series. As a national newspaper
that has long offered extensive coverage of films and filmmakers, this
collaboration will serve to establish a larger cultural presence in Los Angeles
for The New York Times.
LACMA and Film Independent will
inaugurate the new weekly Film Series in September
2011 with previews of feature-length narrative and documentary films; archival
films and repertory series; conversations with emerging and established
filmmakers and artists; international showcases; family films; and special
guest-curated programs. In addition, monthly
post-screening receptions will bring together the Los Angeles creative
community by offering a gathering place for film lovers, artists and the
general public. The current LACMA film program, as well as Film Independent’s
year-round Film Series will continue through mid-September. Additionally, LACMA will continue its Tuesday
matinee series and film programs presented in conjunction with special
exhibitions. LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director
Michael Govan notes, “As the only encyclopedic art
museum in Los Angeles, the film capital of the world, LACMA should, and will
be, at the forefront of the consideration and presentation of how film has
played an ever-increasing role in contemporary art and life. In conversations with the film community over
the past year, we have decided that collaboration and partnership is the most
effective way to advance the shared mission of our organizations.” Govan continues, “Our goal is to create a
field-leading film department that captures the importance of film and moving
images in the history of art, in keeping with LACMA’s curatorial mission.”
Ian
Birnie, LACMA’s Consulting Curator in the Film Department, will be leaving this
fall. His final film series to be programmed for the museum will be a Tim
Burton retrospective this summer, complementing the Tim Burton exhibition opening May 29. “We are enormously
grateful to Ian for his substantial contribution to LACMA’s film program over
the last fifteen years,” says Govan.
“His commitment, discerning vision, and hard work have been invaluable.”
Film
Independent’s Programming department (which programs year-round Film Series and
the Los Angeles Film Festival), in conjunction with a new lead programmer
starting in the summer, will serve as curators for the new Film Series. They’ll be working closely with LACMA’s
director and curatorial staff to cover a breadth of film that promotes a
cinematic dialogue and showcases artistic achievement.
“Our partnership with LACMA is a
wonderful way for Film Independent to further strengthen our commitment to
championing film artists and bringing their work to a larger audience. The new
series will provide our membership with a richer film-going experience, and
it’s a beautiful pairing of the film world and the art world that makes perfect
sense in Los Angeles,” said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film
Independent. “We’re also so excited to
be working with The New York Times on this series, as they share our passion
for supporting original and compelling filmmaking.”
“Times readers are enthusiastic
fans of film. They look to us for
critical insight on individual films and for overall coverage of the
industry. This collaboration with LACMA
and Film Independent makes tremendous sense for The Times as it allows us to
continue our commitment to the discovery and showcasing of great films while deepening
our role in Los Angeles,” said Lou Fabrizio, Vice President of Entertainment
Advertising at The New York Times.
“LACMA’s
assessment of its film program has resulted in a deeper commitment. The museum will present major exhibitions
focused on the art of film, including the upcoming MOMA-organized Tim Burton,
Gabriel Figueroa in 2013, and Stanley Kubrick next year. We wanted to strengthen the series, not
compete with what other presenters are doing, which is why Film Independent is
a natural choice,” said Terry Semel, LACMA Board of Trustees Co-Chair.
LACMA will continue its Tuesday
matinee series as well as film programs presented in conjunction with special
exhibitions. It will also plan annual film-related exhibitions, as it has
previously with Dali: Painting & Film
(2007) and the upcoming Tim Burton
(May 29-October 31, 2011), and planned offerings from international filmmakers
Stanley Kubrick (2012) and Gabriel Figueroa (2013) are in the works.
About LACMA
Since its inception in
1965, LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history
and geography-and represent Los Angeles's uniquely diverse population. Today,
the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American,
European, and American art, as well as a contemporary museum on its campus.
With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative collaborations with
artists, and an ongoing Transformation
project, LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich
encyclopedic collection.
Location and Contact: 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90036 | 323 857-6000 |
lacma.org
Hours: Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday: noon-8 pm; Friday: noon-9 pm; Saturday, Sunday: 11 am-8 pm;
closed Wednesday
General Admission: Adults: $15; students 18+ with ID and senior citizens 62+: $10
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