The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has opened its doors in Los Angeles, marking a major milestone in cinema history.
The museum is the first and largest institution in the United States devoted to the history, science, and cultural influences of filmmaking. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, this hub for film lovers has 50,000 square feet (about 4,650 square metres) of galleries, two theatres, including a 1,000-seat auditorium, an education studio and beautiful public spaces. By illuminating the past, present, and future of motion pictures, it aims to advance people’s understanding of cinema through exhibitions, screenings, programmes, and collections.
The Rolex Gallery, a permanent, multi-room experience on the museum’s third floor, features ‘Stories of Cinema’, with special installations that reveal the many aspects of moviemaking – technology, artists, history and social impact – through a variety of diverse and engaging voices that convey the magic of this art form. The legendary Cosmograph Daytona, owned by actor and motor racing enthusiast Paul Newman, is also on display in the museum.
Key Links to Cinema
Rolex is a founding supporter of The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. For almost a century, Rolex and cinema have enjoyed close ties. A kinship that started spontaneously – Rolex watches, a symbol of fortitude and strength, appeared on actors’ wrists in many memorable films – has grown ever stronger over the years, notably through the watchmaker’s active support for film directors, whether established or rising talents.
The close relationship between Rolex and the film industry was formalised in 2017 when the brand signed a partnership agreement with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Rolex thereby became the Academy’s Exclusive Watch and Proud Sponsor of the Oscars® ceremony, for which it also designs and hosts the Greenroom, an elegant space where presenters and guests mingle before going on stage. In 2018, the brand became a sponsor of the Academy’s annual Governors Awards honouring lifetime achievement. Its support of the Academy Museum is part of this broadening relationship. The two organisations are united by a commitment to excellence, a sense of history and a mission to preserve and celebrate the creation of extraordinary works – masterpieces.
