Today, Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is pleased to announce Rolex as its Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece. As part of the three-year partnership, FLC’s annual New York Film Festival and yearly Chaplin Award Gala will be presented in partnership with the Swiss watchmaking brand.

For more than a century, Rolex has partnered with some of the world’s most talented and leading cultural institutions to celebrate excellence in the arts and contribute to perpetuating artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present, and future. 

This new partnership in cinema will champion filmmaking, the transmission of skills to the next generation, and emerging talent.

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) celebrates cinema as a vital art form, hosting prestigious film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations throughout the year in its state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC provides a dynamic hub, offering audiences the chance to explore works by both renowned and emerging filmmakers from around the globe, all within a vibrant community of passionate film enthusiasts. Rolex is committed to spotlighting talent, fostering excellence in the arts, and ensuring the knowledge and skills of filmmaking are passed onto future generations.  

Presented by FLC in partnership with Rolex, the New York Film Festival (NYFF) is an annual celebration of the most significant international films of the season. The NYFF has played a pivotal role in shaping film culture since its inception in 1963 and continues its enduring tradition of introducing audiences to bold and remarkable works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent.

The Chaplin Award Gala presented in partnership with Rolex, is FLC’s major annual fundraiser; proceeds support the nonprofit organization’s year-round programs, including film series, student programs, and film festivals such as the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films. Since 1972, the Chaplin Award has honored many of the film industry’s most notable talents such as legendary actors and filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Poitier, Barbara Streisand, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, and Viola Davis. This Spring, internationally acclaimed Spanish film director, screenwriter, and author Pedro Almodóvar will receive the 50th Chaplin Award. He will be honored at a gala evening at Lincoln Center on April 28, 2025.

Rolex has long been associated with the world of cinema, having been present at many milestones in cinematic history with watches appearing in numerous films, including multiple Oscar®-winning masterpieces. Today, through its continuing support of artistic and technical distinction in filmmaking, the perpetuation of knowledge, the conservation of the art of filmmaking and the rise of new talent, Rolex has become an active participant, creating an exceptionally strong link between the brand and the industry.

ABOUT ROLEX AND CINEMA

Through the Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre and visual arts, Rolex confirms its long-term commitment to global culture.

For many decades, Rolex has maintained close ties with the world of cinema. Its watches have played a role in numerous films, including Oscar®-winning masterpieces.

The company promotes excellence, encourages the preservation and transmission of the cinematic arts and celebrates achievement by accompanying cinema legends and budding talent through its Testimonees, including Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Jia Zhang-Ke. Rolex recognizes the importance of passing on knowledge from one generation to the next in helping many young promising filmmakers through associations with great artists, such as Mira Nair, Stephen Frears, Zhang Yimou, Walter Murch, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón and Spike Lee.

Rolex champions cinema through its partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2017, serving as Proud Sponsor of the Oscars®, hosting the event’s Greenroom, and by supporting the Governors Awards, known for its recognition of lifetime achievement and humanitarian efforts in the film industry.

To assist in the preservation of film history for future generations, Rolex became a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles and a partner of The Film Foundation.

Through its support of the film industry, Rolex champions excellence, the perpetuation of knowledge, the conservation of the art of filmmaking and the rise of new talent.

Visit here for more information about Rolex and Cinema.