Providence’s Oscar Night America to Honor Nominee Viola Davis
Saturday, February 11, 2012
With a hometown girl up for the top acting Oscar, you can bet there will be a party in Rhode Island. On February 26th, Providence’s own Oscar Night® America party at the Vets will salute Viola Davis, best actress nominee for her role in The Help. Attendees will be able sign a congratulatory card for Davis, participate in a video greeting and cheer her on, in addition to experiencing the thrills, surprises, and red-carpet glamour of the 84th Academy Awards® at this exclusive party, which benefits FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) and its educational programming such as the KidsEye™ Summer Filmmaking Camp and the High school Youth Film Jury Program.
“We could not be prouder of Viola,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF Executive Director. “She has brought such enormous credit to her family, our state and those who mentored her throughout her career. Her success should be applauded and proclaimed. This could not have happened to a nicer human being and is so well deserved. We wish her only good fortune and will be on pins and needles during the evening.”
Short films with RI ties
Additionally, five films that premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival last August have been nominated for Oscars in the short film categories: "Incident in New Baghdad" D. James Spione; "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" D. William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg; "Raju" D. Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren; "The Shore" D. Terry George and Oorlagh George; and "Time Freak" D. Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey.
The Rhode Island event is one of only 49 parties officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar® Night.
Oscar night: an event meant to be shared
"Oscar night is an event meant to be a shared with others," said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. "This network of fundraising parties across the nation is a natural extension of that experience, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does."
“This February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country."
Providence Oscar Night
Providence Oscar Night® America’s Honorary Chairman is R.I. Film & Television Office Executive Director Steven Feinberg. The host and MC for this year's event is Rhode Island comic icon, Charlie Hall. Special Honored Guests include The Brattleboro Retreat Executive Director/CEO Dr. Robert E. Simpson Jr, The Brattleboro Retreat Filmmaker and Director of Development Mr. Konstantin von Krusenstiern, PMA Industries’ Barry Martin and Peter Archambault, Providence Business News Creative Economy Writer Denise Perreault; and noted photographer Jonathan Beller.
Oscar, 40 feet high
The Providence audience will watch the Academy Awards telecast live on a spectacular 40-foot screen in HD courtesy of WLNE TV 6, the Rhode Island affiliate of the ABC Television Network, which broadcasts the Academy Awards presentation. This is the 19th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar® Night viewing parties throughout the country. This year marks the third year that Providence’s party has been sanctioned by the Academy.
Tickets for Providence Oscar Night® America is $125 for those participating in the Red Carpet Gala, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a welcome reception, gourmet dinner, drinks, live music, raffle and screening of the Academy Awards. For those who are not attending the gala but wish to watch the Awards ceremony only on our large screen, tickets are $10, with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. All festivities will be held at The Vets (formerly The VMA Arts & Cultural Center), 1 Avenue of the Arts. For tickets, go here.
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