The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is famous for putting on the Golden Globe Awards every January, honoring excellence in both film and television. Program note: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to host again, for the third year running.
But what that HFPA does not get as much publicity for is its extreme generosity in awarding grants, fellowships and scholarships every year to worthy organizations ranging from those supporting aspiring young filmmakers to children’s hospitals to historical film preservation. The list is lengthy and the recipients diverse.
This year at a festive banquet held August 14 at its home away from home, the Beverly Hilton– albeit in the smaller ballroom then the one in which the Globes are handed out – the organization handed out almost $2 million in grants. $1.9 mil to be exact.
The recipients, who received between $5,000-$50,000 each, included American Cinematheque, American Film Institute, Cal State Long Beach, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, Echo Park Film Center, Film Noir, the Film Foundation, Ghetto Film School, GlobalGirl Media, Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles, Outfest, UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Young Storytellers Foundation.
HFPA president Theo Kingma started the evening on a somber note by remembering Lauren Bacall and Robin Williams, who had both passed earlier in the week. “No performer likes to be confronted by silence, so in memorial, I would like to ask you for a moment of applause,” Kingma requested—and the audience responded immediately in honor of the two show business legends.
“Ms. Lauren Becall was a true legend representing the Golden Age of Hollywood, an icon of the silver screen for more than seventy years. Her work shall forever live on, in many cases due to those organizations we will be honoring this evening and specialize in film preservation.” Kingma said, before recognizing Williams’ legacy.
“And of course, Robin Williams, a man, whose extraordinary comedic talents brought so much joy and laughter. He once explained why he liked meeting with our membership, saying, when the HFPA enjoys your film they’ll tell you they like your movie. If they don’t like your film, well, they just ask, “So how are the kids?” In light of tonight’s theme of philanthropy, we especially thank him for using his joyful talent, not just as an actor but also as a tool to help those in need through such charities as comic relief.”
One could imagine both of them looking on approvingly as the check for each recipient organization was accepted by a celebrity who either has ties to it or is moved by its mission.
Participating were Sofia Vergara, Channing Tatum, Robert Pattison, Andy Samberg, Kerry Washington, Kristen Bell, Chris Evans, Jason Segel, Franka Potenta, Anne Heche, Morgan Freeman, Eddie Redmayne, Gina Rodriguez, Elle Fanning, Haley Steinfeld, Abigail Spencer, Michael Pena, Jenny Slate, Nick Jonas, Rose McGowan, James Marsden, Minnie Driver and Chaz Ebert, wife of the late film critic Roger Ebert.
And although the presentation was formatted and went quickly, a pregnant Ms. Bell surprised guests with a performance of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from her blockbuster animated feature film Frozen– as Kerry Washington looked on entranced, waiting to go on stage.
Another high point came when Kingma announced that beginning with next year’s grants and scholarships, dick clark productions has generously agreed to provide $7.5 million in matching funds towards the charities supported by the HFPA Trust. The organization has donated more than $20 million in the past 20 years.
And that’s something to celebrate.
— Hillary Atkin
