MoMA's 2016 Film Benefit to Honor Tom Hanks

The Museum of Modern Art's 2016 Film Benefit, presented by CHANEL, will honor Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks on November 15. Winner of the 1993 and 1994 Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), Mr. Hanks has also been nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award on three other occasions, for his roles in Big (1989), Saving Private Ryan(1999), and Cast Away (2001). Later this year, Mr. Hanks will star in the highly anticipated films Inferno (2016) and Sully (2016). The Film Benefit will be highlighted by a gala dinner and a tribute recognizing Mr. Hanks's acclaimed work. MoMA will also pay tribute to Mr. Hanks with a film series of his work, November 8 to 14 in the Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters.

Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film at MoMA, states, "Tom Hanks is a true force in cinema. His work as an actor has brought him both movie stardom and the deep respect of his peers. Together with his work behind the camera as a writer, director, and especially a producer, he has been an essential figure in American storytelling for more than 35 years. We are thrilled to honor him this year."

MoMA's vast film collection includes several films starring Mr. Hanks: A League of Their Own (1992), Philadelphia (1993), Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), and The Ladykillers (2004). Originally founded in 1935 as the Film Library, the film collection is recognized as the strongest in the US, with more than 30,000 international films from all periods and genres. The Film Benefit enables the continued maintenance and growth of this important collection, as well as an ambitious schedule of film series, premieres, festivals, retrospectives, and much more.

Previous Film Benefit honorees include Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Tilda Swinton, Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodóvar, Kathryn Bigelow, Tim Burton, and Baz Luhrmann. Tables are available for $75,000, $50,000, and $25,000 by calling (212) 708-9680. more.