Academy's First New York Oscar® Night Celebration to Benefit FilmAid International

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and humanitarian aid organization FilmAid International will host an Oscar^® Night event at the '21' Club in New York City in celebration of the 84th Academy Awards^® on Oscar Sunday, February 26.  

Since 1990, the Academy has hosted a New York Oscar celebration for its East Coast members, many of whom are previous Academy Award^® winners or nominees. 

This year's event marks the first time the New York party will benefit a charity and celebrate the New York Film Industry. That organization, FilmAid International, uses the power of film and video to reach the world's most vulnerable communities and refugee camps with messages that inspire, address critical shared needs and effect social change. "Giving back is always close to the Academy's heart, and in FilmAid International, we have the perfect partners," said Academy president Tom Sherak. "We're thrilled that we can all come together to both celebrate this year's nominees and advance the important work FilmAid is doing."

"I really can't overstate the impact of the Academy's financial support of FilmAid over the years, which has allowed us to reach much further in bringing critical information and hope to refugees and other communities in need," said Michael Angst, Chairman of FilmAid's board of directors. "Additionally, the personal involvement of Academy members, such as those that traveled with us during the delegation trip last summer to the Kakuma refugee camp on the border of South Sudan, is invaluable in demonstrating the commitment of professionals from the motion picture industry to leveraging the power of film to help these communities in crisis."

The '21' Club, located at 21 West 52nd Street, has served as a shoot location for many of Hollywood's most admired films including "All About Eve," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and "Wall Street." Expected attendees include Beau Bridges, Alfre Woodard, New York Industry elite and more.

The evening's festivities will kick off with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 8 p.m. and the live telecast of the 84th Academy Awards begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

For more information contact FilmAid International at [email protected] or the Academy at [email protected]. 

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

SOURCE The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences