August 28, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dawn Newell - (310) 247-3000
                        dnewell@oscars.org

CONTACT: Harvey Bolgla - (212) 388-1400
                        hbolgla@dba-pr.com

CONTACT: Sara Trujillo - (212) 388-1400
                        strujillo@dba-pr.com

New York, NY -The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will expand its film programming efforts in New York City this fall when it launches a series of monthly screenings titled "Monday Nights with Oscar." The series kicks off on September 22 with the presentation of a restored print of the 1968 Academy Award^®-winning film "The Lion in Winter."

"Monday Nights with Oscar" will feature high quality prints of films that have either been nominated for or won Academy Awards during the organization's 75 year history. The films will screen one Monday each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International in Manhattan.

Each screening also will feature additional materials, ranging from rarely seen Oscar telecast footage to Academy Award-winning Animated Short films. A noted film historian, filmmaker or critic will introduce each program. Peter Travers, film critic and senior editor of Rolling Stone, will serve as moderator for the screening of "The Lion in Winter." Others scheduled to take part in future screenings include Robert Osborne, author of the upcoming book 75 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards, and film critic Joel Siegel.

A regular schedule of retrospective and educational screenings and programs has long been a staple of the Academy's activities in Los Angeles. Presented by the Academy's educational and cultural wing, the Academy Foundation, these programs are open to the general public as well as Academy members, and in most cases are an opportunity for audiences to view the very best film prints available under ideal screening conditions.

"Much of our programming over the years has been able to tap into the wealth of film materials that have been preserved by the Academy Film Archive," said Academy President Frank Pierson. "We've been tremendously successful in Beverly Hills, and after the great response we received from New Yorkers for the recent 75th anniversary series, we decided it was the perfect time to share these outstanding films with New York movie fans."

"The Lion in Winter," which won three Oscars out of its seven nominations, is a drama set in medieval England based on the true story of King Henry II. The film chronicles Henry's plan to announce his successor to the throne and the royal deception that resulted. Katharine Hepburn earned her third Leading Actress Oscar for her performance as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. The film also won Academy Awards for Music (Original Score - for a motion picture [not a musical]) and Writing (Screenplay - based on material from another medium). Peter O'Toole starred as King Henry II and garnered his third Leading Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in the film. Additional Academy Award nominations included Costume Design, Directing and Best Picture.

The print to be screened was recently restored by Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM Studios, in collaboration with the Academy Film Archive. It screened for Academy members in London in April 2001 and was shown for the first time in the United States at the Academy in June 2003.

The schedule for the Academy's "Monday Nights with Oscar" in New York is:

2003
September 22: "The Lion in Winter"
October 27: "The Hustler"
November 17: "Roman Holiday"
December 15: "The Diary of Anne Frank"

2004
January 12: "Primary" and "All the King's Men"
February 21: Live Action and Animated Short Films (76th Academy Award Nominees)
February 23: "Carmen Jones"
March 22: "On the Waterfront"

Titles for April, May and June will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the screening are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. To purchase tickets by mail, send a check or money order payable to the Academy Foundation, P.O. Box 118, 236 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10002-1401. All orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets also may be reserved over the phone by calling 888-778-7575. Pending availability, tickets may be purchased in person the night of the screening when the doors open at 7:00 p.m. The Academy Theater at Lighthouse International is located at 111 East 59th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. For additional information about the screening series, and to sign up for the Academy Foundation mailing list, please visit the Academy's website at www.oscars.org.