On September 25, 2021, as part of a week of celebrations culminating in the museum’s public opening on September 30, 2021,the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosted an Opening Gala co-chaired by Jason Blum, Ava Duvernay, and Ryan Murphy. Like the museum’s Hayao Miyazaki exhibition, the gala is designed as a journey, with décor inspired by the filmmaker’s enchanted worlds. Guests entered the event via a green carpet with large floral installations referencing Miyazaki’s depictions of the natural environment and the exhibition’s immersive Magical Forest.
The celebratory evening included the presentation of the inaugural Vantage Award to Haile Gerima, for his work as a filmmaker who has helped to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema, and the inaugural Visionary Award to Sophia Loren , for her extensive body of work that has advanced the art of cinema. The Vantage and Visionary Awards were generously presented by Rolex. Bob Iger, Annette Bening, and Tom Hanks were also recognized with the Pillar Award for their leadership of the recently completed Campaign for the Academy Museum. Designed by the Haas Brothers, the Pillar Award references the soaring sphere of the Academy Museum and the iconic gold of the Oscar.
From a cocktail hour on the Wilshire Terrace, guests passed through a whimsical Hayao Miyazaki inspired “tree tunnel” to a dinner under the stars on the Dolby Family Terrace. Dinner was prepared by Wolfgang Puck Catering, which oversees catering services at the museum and its restaurant Fanny’s. Marking the seventh year of a long-term partnership between Piper-Heidsieck and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Piper-Heidsieck provided the exclusive champagne of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opening celebrations. Rare Champagne Rosé 2007 and Rare Champagne Brut Millésime 2006 were served at the Opening Gala.
The cocktail hour featured signature drinks created by Diageo included Don Julio Ranch Water, Don Julio Limonada, Tanqueray Negroni, Ketel One Classic Martini, and Johnnie Walker Fuzhou Highball. Various spirits from Diageo’s portfolio were served including Tequila Don Julio 1942, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Tequila Don Julio Blanco, Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Ketel One Vodka, and Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Townya Lewis Lee, Spike Lee, Satchel Lee, Jackson Lee attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Tom Dolby, Dagmar Dolby, Natasha Dolby, David Dolby, Brad Comfort attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Lee Isaac Chung,Yuh-Jung Youn attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Selma Blair, Rachel Fleitt attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Thuso Mbedu attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Sarah Paulson attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Riley Keough attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Regina King attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Molly Shannon attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Nicole Kidman attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Rebecca Hall attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Lydia Hearst attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Lisa Love attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Lindsey Vonn attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Katy Perry attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Jon Waters, Greg Gorman attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Lily Rabe attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Kate Hudson attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Kaia Gerber attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Byeng-Hun Lee attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Jurnee Smollett attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Jennifer Hudson attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Jason Blum attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Jamie Lee Curtis attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Halle Berry, Van Hunt attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Eva Longoria attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Fatma Al Remaihi attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Halle Berry attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Chloé Zhao attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Ariana DeBose attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Barry Diller, Diane von Furstenberg attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Bill Kramer and Peter Cipkowski attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021Angela Bassett attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021 Angela Bassett attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021 Adrianna Lima attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021David Dolby, Natasha Dolby, Tom Dolby, Andrew First attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, September 25, 2021
Julie is the visionary founder of SNAP TASTE and a dynamic force in global storytelling, innovation and creative leadership. She is a respected member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and serves as a judge for the CES Innovation Awards (2024, 2025 and 2026), where she contributes thought leadership on the intersections of business, culture and breakthrough technologies.
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With a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges art, technology, and culture, Julie continues to shape the dialogue on how storytelling and innovation converge to influence the way we experience the world.
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