Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) announces speakers to pay tribute to George Clooney at the 51st Chaplin Award Gala, on April 27 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. The gala presenters include Emmy- and Grammy Award–winning host Stephen Colbert, whose Late Show debut in 2015 featured George Clooney as his first guest; Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies, who starred alongside Clooney in the critically acclaimed drama series ER; Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell, whose breakout performance in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was directed by Clooney; and Emmy Award–winning actor, writer, and director John Turturro, who starred alongside Clooney in the Academy Award–nominated O Brother, Where Art Thou? The Chaplin Award Tribute will feature excerpts from a selection of the renowned actor, director, producer, and humanitarian’s works; appearances by actors, friends, and colleagues; and the presentation of the award.

George Clooney is universally celebrated for his wide-ranging creativity and prolific contributions to film and television. He has earned historic recognition, including but not limited to two Academy Awards, with nominations in a record six different categories, as well as multiple Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and an AFI Life Achievement Award. His most recent works include starring in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, which premiered at the 63rd New York Film Festival, and he produced Showtime’s The Agency. He is equally acclaimed behind the camera, earning two Academy Award nominations for writing and one for directing. His work has extended to the stage as well, earning a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck.

Clooney holds a longstanding commitment to humanitarian advocacy, and is a leading voice in global human-rights campaigns, especially regarding the crises in Darfur and Sudan. His activism has earned numerous honors, including the Peace Summit Award, designation as a U.N. Messenger of Peace, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award. Whether advancing storytelling on screen or advocating for vulnerable communities around the world, Clooney has forged a career defined by artistic excellence and global engagement. 

The Chaplin Award Gala is Film at Lincoln Center’s premier annual fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit’s wide-ranging programs, including film series, educational initiatives, and prestigious festivals like the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films. The Chaplin Award has been bestowed upon legendary actors and filmmakers such as Jeff Bridges, Viola Davis, Robert De Niro, Barbara Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Altman, Billy Wilder, and Elizabeth Taylor. A full list of honorees can be found here. 

Tribute-only tickets are available here, as well as in person at the box office located within the lobby of Alice Tully Hall. To secure your place at the dinner or to make a donation, please contact [email protected]. All proceeds from the Chaplin Award Gala benefit Film at Lincoln Center’s programs and activities as a nonprofit organization.

Film at Lincoln Center gives special thanks to the 51st Chaplin Award Gala Co-Chairs Kathy and Kris Heinzelman, Susan and John Hess, Susannah Gray and John Lyons, Imelda and Peter Sobiloff, and Nanna and Dan Stern; and Vice Chairs Ellie and Edgar Cullman, Lisa and Sandy Ehrenkranz, Barry Feirstein, Wendy Keys, Ronnie Planalp, Paula and Ira Resnick, Mary Solomon, and Tara Kelleher and Roy Zuckerberg.

For information about attending the Gala, please contact [email protected]. 

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films.

Founded in 1969, FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication of Film Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs. 

The Chaplin Award Gala is generously supported by Media Partners: The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and The WNET Group. American Airlines is the official airline of Film at Lincoln Center.

Film at Lincoln Center receives generous, year-round support from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.  For more information, visit filmlinc.org and follow us here for updates.

For press inquiries regarding Film at Lincoln Center, please contact:
John Kwiatkowski, Film at Lincoln Center, [email protected]
Eva Tooley, Film at Lincoln Center, [email protected]