New York, NY (RPRN) 04/13/09– The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Monday Nights with Oscar®” will celebrate the motion picture highlights and advances of 1908, D.W. Griffith’s first year as a director, with the presentation of “A Century Ago: The Films of 1908,” on Monday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Theater in New York City.

“A Century Ago” will sample the year’s entertainment and artistic achievements with screenings of such films as Biograph’s “After Many Years,” in which new director Griffith experiments with parallel cutting and camera movement; Vitagraph’s trick film “The Thieving Hand”; Gaumont’s sensational “Fantasmagorie,” animated by Émile Cohl; and one of the earliest Italian productions “Le Farfalle” (“Butterflies”), presented from a hand-tinted print.

Hosted by the Academy’s Director of Educational Programs and Special Projects Randy Haberkamp, the evening will feature live musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla.

Most films will be screened from 35mm prints drawn from the collections of the Academy Film Archive, the Library of Congress, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, among others.

Tickets for “A Century Ago: Films of 1908” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org or by mail (a printable order form is available in the Events & Exhibitions section of the Web site (see Venues & Ticket Information). Tickets may also be purchased at the box office on the night of the event (subject to availability). The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. All seating is unreserved. For more information, call (212) 821-9251.

The Academy Theater is located at 111 East 59th Street in New York City.
# # #

Editors: Downloadable images are available at http://photos.oscars.org/
About the Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

CONTACT: Teni Melidonian – (310) 247-3090
tmelidonian@oscars.org
Harvey Bolgla – (212) 388-1400
hbolgla@dba-pr.com
Sara Trujillo – (212) 388-1400
strujillo@dba-pr.com

©A.M.P.A.S.®
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
(310) 247-3000 | www.oscars.org | publicity@oscars.org