The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago hosted its 13th annual benefit June 30 at The Ritz-Carlton with over 350 guests in attendance. “Celebrate Scarlett” honored award-winning actress Scarlett Johansson with the prestigious Renaissance Award and included a lively Q&A conducted by film critic Richard Roeper. The announcement that same day that Johansson was the highest-grossing movie actress in history added even more excitement to the evening.
The 31 year-old honoree, who sparkled in a pale blue Oscar de la Renta dress, spent time with reporters in the press line while guests mingled in the reception area before dinner. She shared what she loves most about Chicago, “its house music, art scene, architecture and people” and that her favorite role so far is playing Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, in the Marvel Comics film series.
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After partygoers filed into the Grand Ballroom, Jean de St. Aubin, the film center’s executive director, welcomed guests and introduced a video that described the center as “Chicago’s world class cinematheque dedicated to showcasing emerging artists, international cinema and independent filmmakers.”
Ellen Sandor, film center advisory board chair, presented Walter Massey with the inaugural Illustrious Leader Award on his last day as president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “We have to say goodbye to a scientist, a leader and to somebody who literally increased enrollment by 30 percent,” she said.
Co-chairs Marlene Iglitzen and Ellen Kollar shared a video of past Renaissance Award recipients Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. congratulating Johansson. In a humorous clip, Downey (who appeared with his wife, Susan) teased the honoree saying, “And all this without a social media presence.”
Roeper said of the star: “She’s a throwback. I think she’s one of the few actresses we have today who would’ve been an old-time movie star in any era. She has that ‘it’ quality,” he said.
A retrospective of film clips from a few of her 54 screen roles accompanied the conversation and included “Lost in Translation,” “The Horse Whisperer,” “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” “Match Point” and “The Avengers.” She has won a Tony, four Golden Globe nominations and a BAFTA, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award.
Johansson has appeared in three Woody Allen films and said, “It’s that dream call you get as an actress. … I always told Woody I would do his food service if he asked me to. There was something in the cosmos that just brought us together.” She added, “My job blows my mind all the time.”
Over $400,000 was raised to support the Gene Siskel Film Center’s curated film programming, lecture series, discussions with visiting scholars and filmmakers, and outreach programming for students and the community.
Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.
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Find more photos and events at www.chicagotribune.com/candidcandace. Visit Candid Candace’s website at www.candidcandace.com, or follow her on Twitter @CandidCandace.
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