The silver screen’s biggest names gathered for a night devoted to the darker side of cinema on Oct. 18, as the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosted its sixth annual gala in Los Angeles. With the museum’s new exhibition, “The Horror Show,” setting the tone, the evening brought together film, fashion, and music powerhouses for a celebration that raised more than $14 million.
The Scene: Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma opened the evening with welcoming remarks, followed by a toast from museum trustee Olivier de Givenchy. Proceeds from the night are set to support the museum’s exhibitions, screenings, educational programming, and community access initiatives.
The Occasion: Three Hollywood machers received their flowers. Jamie Lee Curtis began the processions with a tribute to horror cinema before introducing Robert Rodriguez, who presented fellow filmmaker and composer John Carpenter with the Luminary Award. Sigourney Weaver followed, presenting Charlize Theron with the Icon Award in recognition of her weighty impact on the medium. After dinner, Judd Apatow introduced Tom Ford, who bestowed the Vantage Award on Colman Domingo.
The Crowd: It might have been easier to ask which megawatt star wasn’t in attendance. Among the assembled stars were actors Mikey Madison, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Adrien Brody, Rami Malek, Jacob Elordi, Demi Moore, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Ana de Armas, Elle Fanning, Seth Rogen, Hunter Schafer, Andrew Garfield, Jessica Lange, and Pierce Brosnan; musicians Jennifer Hudson, Sabrina Carpenter, and A$AP Rocky; reality stars Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian; and director Ava DuVernay.
The Entertainment: Conan O’Brien introduced the evening’s final act: Taylor Swift, who treated guests to an intimate set of fan favorites. Homma returned for closing remarks before sending the crowd off to explore “The Horror Show.”
Food and Drink: Chefs Antonia Lofaso and Wolfgang Puck handled dinner, while Tequila Don Julio poured specialty cocktails alongside wines from Clarendelle and Domaine Clarence Dillon, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, and Dassai sake.
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