FSLC and Disney Announce a 25th Anniversary Screening of "Beauty and the Beast"

THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER AND DISNEY
ANNOUNCE A 25th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ON SEPTEMBER 18

Featuring original voice cast members Robby Benson, Paige O’Hara,
Angela Lansbury, and Richard White in person

New York, NY (August 16, 2016) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Disney are pleased to announce a 25th anniversary screening of Beauty and the Beast, presented Sunday, September 18 at Alice Tully Hall.

In September 1991, two months before its theatrical release, Disney’s animated masterpiece Beauty and the Beast screened as a “Work in Progress” at the 29th New York Film Festival in Alice Tully Hall. Even though a third of the film consisted of storyboard art and black-and-white animation tests, the screening garnered a standing ovation.

When it was released, it became an instant classic. Visually lavish and musically exuberant, the fairy-tale adaptation was one of the first Disney features to incorporate elements of computer-generated imagery with hand-drawn animation, and it would be the first animated film to garner an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, winning awards for best score and original song.

In anticipation of the 54th New York Film Festival, Beauty and the Beast returns to Alice Tully Hall for a special 25th anniversary screening for Film Society members to celebrate the film and its vibrant cultural legacy.

“One of the most vivid memories I have of a rousing New York Film Festival evening was the 1991 screening of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” said Wendy Keys, former NYFF Selection Committee member and FSLC Executive Producer. “Because we showed it in a somewhat unfinished form—we saw animation in all its different phases—we were invited to examine the process without losing any of the narrative power or emotional impact. Astonishing!”

Original voice cast members Robby Benson (Beast), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), and Richard White (Gaston) will appear in person for an extended introduction.

Tickets are $20 and on sale now at filmlinc.org. This special event is available exclusively to Film Society members and patrons. Learn more about Film Society membership at filmlinc.org/membership.

ABOUT BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic Beauty and the Beast captures the magical journey of Belle, an independent and intelligent modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous Beast in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra, and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE COLLECTION
The Walt Disney Signature Collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. Each release will offer special features for every member of your family plus a unique digital experience.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
For over 90 years, the Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which the Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, HBO, The Kobal Collection, Variety, Loews Regency Hotel, Row NYC Hotel, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.