The Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) 2020 Film Benefit, presented by fashion brand Chanel, is set to honor actor George Clooney. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting artists who have been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The Film Department of MoMA, located in Manhattan, New York City, has been conducting this event every year since 2008. Chanel has been sponsoring the event since 2011. This year, the benefit is entering its 13th year. The 59-year-old actor has joined the league of actors and filmmakers who have been conferred upon this honour, including Laura Dern, Martin Scorsese, Julianne Moore, Tom Hanks, Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Tilda Swinton, Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodóvar, Kathryn Bigelow, Tim Burton, and Baz Luhrmann. Dern was last year’s guest of honour.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the tribute comes ahead of the December release of Clooney’s film The Midnight Sky on Netflix. MoMA’s film collection already includes eight Clooney films- Out of Sight, Three Kings, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Spy Kids, Intolerable Cruelty, Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck, and The Good German.
Chief curator of film at MoMA Rajendra Roy said that Clooney was selected for his philanthropic activity, apart from his contribution to cinema.
The event will also benefit the Artist Relief, an emergency initiative created by a coalition of national arts grantmakers to offer financial support and informational resources to artists across the United States amid the pandemic.
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For the first time, a $25 ticket will be offered for those looking to attend, with the proceeds going directly to the Artist Relief. There are pricier options as well, with tickets ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 and those that include “dinner and a movie” for screenings of The Midnight Sky paired with a home viewing experience menu, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
“The arts, especially film, are critical to civil society especially during these challenging times,” said Glenn D Lowry, David Rockefeller director at MoMa. “We are proud to continue championing the important contributions of film and filmmakers, and grateful to support Artist Relief and all of the vital work that they’re doing to help artists across the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.”