Tuesday, April 3---------The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents its annual Gala Tribute to the Oscar-winning and much-loved actress Diane Keaton on Monday, April 9th. The evening will include highlights selected especially for this occasion from the actress’ extensive body of work, on-stage salutes from friends and colleagues, and personal remarks by Ms. Keaton.

Ms. Keaton will be toasted and praised by such presenters as Woody Allen, Steve Martin and Martin Short, The Allen-Keaton parternship (both personal and professional) is one of the most celebrated in film history, the duo having worked together on eight films, starting with Play It Again Sam (1972), and including Annie Hall (1977), for which Keaton took home the Oscar for Best Actress. Short, Martin and Keaton have worked on two films together, the two versions of the Father of the Bride. 

“The Film Society of Lincoln Center is thrilled to pay tribute to a total original—actor, producer, director, photographer and style icon, Diane Keaton,” says Director of Gala Tribute, Wendy Keys.  “Keaton’s career defining roles in films, directed by Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Warren Beatty and Nancy Myers, among others, have made her one of the most popular and beloved screen stars in America.  Delightful, surprising, radiant and above all, deeply independent, she has brought a variety of rich and memorable characters to the screen.”

Since her debut in Lovers and Other Strangers, Diane Keaton has proven to be an extremely versatile actress, director and producer.  Her acting career spans over twenty-five films, including The Godfather trilogy, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Annie Hall, for which she received a Best Actress Academy Award, Something’s Gotta Give for which she received an Academy Award nomination, Reds and Marvin’s Room.  Her directing credits include Heaven and Unstrung Heroes and her producing credits include Gus Van Sant’s Elephant.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Annual Gala Tribute began in 1972, with a single and worthy motive—to bring Charles Chaplin, one of this country’s greatest artists, back to the United States from his home in Switzerland.  Chaplin had exiled himself from this country in 1953, at the height of the Red Scare. It was only in 1972, thanks to a great deal of concerted behind-the-scenes efforts by the Film Society, that Chaplin once again set foot on American soil, where after his New York tribute, he made his celebrated trip to the Academy Awards.  

The roster of former honorees mirrors many of the great talents of the 20th Century, including Fred Astaire, Alfred Hitchcock, Federico Fellini, Bob Hope (tribute directed by Woody Allen), Claudette Colbert, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery, Martin Scorsese, Michael Caine, Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda and Mike Nichols and most recently Jessica Lange.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor