Michael Douglas Honored at Avon Theatre - Deborah & Chuck Royce Cinema Arts Center

 

STAMFORD, CT, October 25, 2024 -- The Avon Theatre Film Center hosted a star-studded evening on October 22, 2024, to honor Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The sold-out event, which drew film enthusiasts and community supporters alike, celebrated Douglas's extraordinary contributions to cinema and his humanitarian work over the past five decades.

The evening featured an in-depth conversation with Douglas, who reflected on his iconic career, from producing *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* to starring in legendary films like *Wall Street*, *Fatal Attraction*, and *Basic Instinct*. Douglas's candid anecdotes about his experiences in Hollywood captivated the audience, providing a rare glimpse into the life of one of cinema's most enduring stars.

"This is a night I'll never forget," Douglas said during the ceremony. "To be recognized by a theater as historic and beloved as the Avon means the world to me. The arts are the heart of a community, and places like the Avon keep that spirit alive."

Sir Howard Stringer, former president of CBS News, former President and Chairman of the Board of the Sony Corporation Worldwide, and Honorary Chair of the American Film Institute, presented the award to Douglas. The evening also included congratulatory videos from President William Jefferson Clinton, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Paul Rudd, and Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh. The Yale Alley Cats, violinist Charles Yang, pianist Peter Dugan, and Tony-nominated actress Valisia LeKae provided musical performances. The evening was produced and emceed by Terre Blair Hamlisch, a personal long-time friend of Michael Douglas and widow of esteemed award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch.

The gala, a fundraising event, significantly bolstered the Avon Theatre's mission of bringing world-class films and programming to the Stamford community. Funds from the event will support the theater's educational initiatives, maintain its historic facilities, and continue to showcase an array of independent, documentary, and classic films.

"The success of this evening demonstrates the profound impact of the arts in our community," said Peter Gistelinck, executive director of the Avon Theatre. "We are deeply grateful to Michael Douglas and our supporters for making this an unforgettable night."

The event also includes an online auction to raise additional funds to support the theater, which will continue through October 31st. More information can be found at www.avontheatre.org.

Presenting sponsors for the Lifetime Achievement Award Gala were Bloomberg Philanthropies, The First Bank of Greenwich, and Kathy & Peter Sachs.

The Avon is currently embarking on a capital campaign to reinvent the Avon by elevating it to 21st-century comfort and technology standards. These proposed improvements will maintain the theater's unique decor and enhance its original charm by making it larger, more accessible, and equipped to offer even more engaging programming.

The Avon Theatre - Deborah & Chuck Royce Cinema Arts Center is a member-supported, nonprofit, independent cinema committed to showcasing a curated selection of independent, foreign, classic, and documentary films. Nestled in the heart of downtown Stamford, CT, the Avon has stood as a cultural beacon for almost 85 years, enriching the community through unforgettable experiences that promote dialogue and inspire an appreciation for the art of cinema. Through its special programming, educational initiatives, and community engagement efforts, the Avon strives to create a dynamic space where film enthusiasts of all ages can come together to explore, discover, and celebrate the magic of the silver screen.

For more information about the Avon, including upcoming screenings, membership opportunities, and special events, please visit www.avontheatre.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

What’s New On Max This November

 

Watch The Debuts Of HBO Originals “Dune: Prophecy,” “Like Water For Chocolate” And “Get Millie Black,” Season Three Of The Max Original Series “The Sex Lives Of College Girls,” Max/Magnolia Network Original Series “Second Chance Stage,” Max Original Film “Sweethearts,” HBO Original Documentaries “Night Is Not Eternal,” “Surveilled,” And “Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary,” CNN Film “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid” And A24 Film “Janet Planet” Get Ready For November With Max’s Election Collection

FEATURED PROGRAMMING Debuts November 1 JANET PLANET A24 Film Logline: In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet. As the months pass, three visitors enter their orbit, all captivated by Janet and her spellbinding nature. In her solitary moments, Lacy inhabits an inner world so extraordinarily detailed that it begins to seep into the outside world. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker captures a child's experience of time passing, and the ineffability of a daughter falling out of love with her mother, in this singularly sublime film debut. Cast: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, and Sophie Okonedo. Credits: Written and directed by Annie Baker; produced by Dan Janvey, Derrick Tseng, Annie Baker, and Andrew Goldman. Debuts November 3 LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE HBO Original Drama Series 6 Episodes Rollout: Episodes debut weekly Logline: The series explores the idea that sometimes traditions can become a prison, an obstacle for love. Tita de la Garza and Pedro Múzquiz are two souls deeply in love, yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs. The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen. For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression, allowing her to channel her deepest desires and passions into her recipes, transforming those who taste them. Cast: Irene Azuela, Azul Guaita, Ana Valeria Becerril, Andrea Chaparro, Andrés Baida, Ángeles Cruz, Mauricio García Lozano, Ari Brickman, and Louis David Horné. Credits: Executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault, José Tamez, and Siobhan Flynn for Ventanarosa Productions; Sharon Levy, Lisa Fahrenholt and Flavio Morales for Endemol Shine North America; Alejandro Rincón, Clara Machado, Jerry Rodríguez, also showrunner of the series, and Manuel Vargas, who oversees physical production, for Endemol Shine Boomdog; and Mariano Cesar, Mônica Alburquerque and Anouk Aarón for Warner Bros. Discovery. Francisco Javier Royo Fernández, known as ‘Curro Royo’, also serves as executive producer and head writer. He is joined by the series’ scriptwriters María Jaén, and Jimena Gallardo. Directed by Mexican filmmakers Julián de Tavira and Analorena Perezríos. Debuts November 14 CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID CNN Films Logline: From masterminding Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential win to his insurgent role in the 2024 race, Democratic strategist James Carville has been one of the most influential forces in modern political history. The "Ragin' Cajun" looks back at his unlikely career and 30-year marriage to Republican consultant Mary Matalin. Featuring interviews with Bill Clinton, George Stephanopoulos and more. Credits: CNN Films presents CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID. Produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer; produced by Susan McCue, Ryan Rothmaier, Graham High, and Corey Reeser.   Debuts November 17 DUNE: PROPHECY HBO Original Drama Series 6 Episodes Rollout: Episodes debut weekly Logline: From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. DUNE: PROPHECY is inspired by the novel SISTERHOOD OF DUNE, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Cast: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Camilla Beeput, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha. Credits: Alison Schapker serves as showrunner and executive producer. Diane Ademu-John co-developed the series and serves as executive producer. Anna Foerster executive produced and directed multiple episodes including the first. Jordan Goldberg, Mark Tobey, John Cameron, Matthew King, Scott Z. Burns, and Jon Spaihts executive produce with New York Times bestselling author Brian Herbert, along with Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate. New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson serves as co-producer. The series is co-produced by HBO and LegendarTelevision with Legendary also producing the film franchise that has released two installments to critical acclaim, the first of which garnered six Academy Awards®. Alongside the series, Max will introduce a companion podcast that will offer insights from the creators, creatives, and cast, allowing fans to dive deeper into universe of Dune. Each podcast episode will become available following the debut of new episodes of the series.   Debuts November 13 CALL ME TED Documentary Series Logline: A six-part documentary on the extraordinary life of Ted Turner. Credits: Written and directed by Keith Clarke; produced by Joni Levin; executive produced by John C. Malone, Brian L. Roberts, Charles F. Dolan, and S. Taylor Glover.   Debuts November 19 NIGHT IS NOT ETERNAL HBO Original Documentary Logline: NIGHT IS NOT ETERNAL is a deeply personal exploration of political activism through the eyes of Chinese American filmmaker Nanfu Wang. For over seven years, Nanfu follows Rosa Maria Paya, a young Cuban activist and daughter of five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Oswaldo Paya, in her fight for democratic change in Cuba. Driven by her own experiences in China, Nanfu is drawn to Rosa's story and the parallels between their homelands. With intimate access, Nanfu follows Rosa's journey from the streets of Havana to rallies and conferences worldwide, capturing her transformation from a grassroots activist to an international public figure and documenting the challenges faced by activists resisting authoritarian regimes. Credits: HBO Documentary Films presents NIGHT IS NOT ETERNAL.  Produced and Directed by Nanfu Wang; Producer, Lori Cheatle. Debuts November 20 SURVEILLED  HBO Original Documentary Logline: SURVEILLED tracks The New Yorker journalist Ronan Farrow as he investigates the growing business of commercial spyware, following the story from New York City to Tel Aviv, Israel, a thriving center of espionage cybertechnology. Once a target of covert surveillance himself, Farrow explores the multibillion-dollar industry, addressing the twofold uses and implications of phone hacking – the ability to monitor criminal activity and the attendant threats to civil liberties. Credits: HBO Documentary Films presents SURVEILLED. Produced and directed by Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz; produced by Ronan Farrow, Beth Morrissey and Unjin Lee; edited by David Meneses; original music by Mac Quayle; written by Ronan Farrow, Matthew O’Neill, and Perri Peltz.    Debuts November 21 THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS S3 Max Original Comedy Series 10 Episodes Rollout: Episodes debut weekly at 9:00pm ET Logline: Created by Emmy®-nominated writer and producer Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the series follows a group of college students at New England’s prestigious Essex College. Cast: Series regulars are Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, Renika Williams, Gracie Lawrence, and Mia Rodgers. Credits: created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble. Executive produced by Mindy Kaling, showrunner Justin Noble, and Howard Klein, the series is produced by Kaling International and 3 Arts Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television. Debuts November 25 GET MILLIE BLACK HBO Original Limited Series 5 Episodes Rollout: Episodes debut weekly Logline: Ex-Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black returns to Kingston to work missing persons cases, soon finding herself on a quest to save a sibling who won’t be saved, to find a child who can’t be found, to solve a case that will blow her world apart and prove almost as tough to crack as Millie Black. Cast: Tamara Lawrance, Joe Dempsie, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, and Chyna McQueen. Credits:  Produced for HBO and Channel 4 by Motive Pictures; creator/executive producer, Marlon James; executive producer, Jami O’Brien; executive producer, Simon Maxwell (CEO Motive Pictures); executive producer, Leopoldo Gout; lead director/co-executive producer, Tanya Hamilton; director (two episodes), Annetta Laufer; director (one episode) Jean Luc Herbulot; writer/co-executive producer (one episode), Joshua St. Johnston; writer, Theresa Ikoko; writer, Lydia Adetunji; and story producer, Pia Furtado (Motive Pictures). Debuts November 28 SWEETHEARTS Max Original Film Logline: Two college freshmen make a pact to break up with their high school sweethearts over Thanksgiving break, leading them on a chaotic night out in their hometown that puts their codependent friendship to the test. Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Nico Hiraga, Caleb Hearon, Tramell Tillman, Ava Demary, Charlie Hall, Joel Kim Booster, and Christine Taylor. Credits: From New Line Cinema, Picturestart, and Dollface creator Jordan Weiss. Jordan Weiss makes her directorial debut and co-wrote the script with Dan Brier. The film is produced by Picturestart’s Erik Feig and Jessica Switch. Executive producers include Picturestart’s Julia Hammer, Samie Kim Falvey, and Shayne Fiske Goldner; as well as Jordan Weiss and Dan Brier. Debuts November 28 SECOND CHANCE STAGE Max Original Series by Magnolia Network Logline: Second Chance Stage is a new kind of talent competition that offers contestants who have pushed their dreams aside for years, even decades, a second chance at their big break. Cast: Hosted by Emmanuel Acho; judges include Taye Diggs, Heidi Gardner, Martina McBride Debuts November 29 MUSIC BOX: YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY HBO Original Documentary Logline: MUSIC BOX: YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY chronicles the emergence and popularity of the West Coast, soft rock pop culture epitomized by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Retroactively dubbed “Yacht Rock” in 2005 by a parody website series, the easy listening, relaxing sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were beloved by many, came to be gently mocked and even dismissed by rock lovers and critics, but have since reclaimed their legitimate place in music history and are celebrated in this groove-infused film from the Music Box anthology series. Credits: HBO Documentary Films presents MUSIC BOX: YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY, a Ringer Films production in association with Margot Station. Produced and directed by Garret Price; produced by Adam Gibbs and Madison Cross; executive produced by Jody Gerson, Marc Cimino, and Bill Simmons; co-executive produced by Geoff Chow and Sean Fennessey. BLEACHER REPORT LIVE SPORTS IN NOVEMBER: Please note this list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. All times are in ET.   Pre- and post-game programming will also be available to stream live, along with condensed replay highlights available after each game.   Daily Weekday Shows The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, 11 a.m. Up & Adams from FanDuel TV, 2 p.m.   NBA Regular Season Nov. 12 New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m.   Nov. 19 Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m.   Nov. 26 Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m.   NHL Regular Season Nov. 6 Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m.   Nov. 13 Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins*, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m.   Nov. 20 Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers*, 7:30 p.m. Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.   Nov. 27 Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche*, 10 p.m.   Nov. 29 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins, 6:30 p.m. Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m.   College Basketball Nov. 4 Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas Women: South Carolina vs. Michigan, 7:30 p.m. Men: Texas vs. Ohio State, 10 p.m.   Nov. 15 Hall of Fame Series Baltimore Men: UVA vs. Villanova, 5 p.m.   Nov. 26-Nov. 29 Acrisure Series (Classic, Holiday Classic & Holiday Invitational) Check Max listings for times and match-ups   Nov. 26-30 Players Era Festival Impact Tournament: Nov. 26: Houston vs. Alabama, 8 p.m.                Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 10:30 p.m. Nov. 27: Rutgers vs. Alabama, 10:00 p.m.                Notre Dame vs. Houston, 12:30 a.m. Nov. 30: Alabama vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m.                Rutgers vs. Houston, 3:30 p.m.   Power Tournament: Nov. 26: San Diego State vs. Creighton, 2:00 p.m.                Oregon vs. Texas A&M, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 27: Oregon vs. San Diego State – 4:00 p.m.                Texas A&M vs. Creighton – 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30: San Diego State vs. Texas A&M – 7:00 p.m.                Oregon vs. Creighton – 9:30 p.m.   Mountain West College Football Nov. 2 Wyoming at New Mexico, 4 p.m.   U.S. Soccer Nov. 14 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal Round U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Jamaica, 7:30 p.m.   Nov. 18 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal Round U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Jamaica, 8 p.m.   Nov. 30 U.S. Women’s National Team vs. England, 12:20 p.m.   MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 Nov 1-3 PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia   Nov. 15-17 Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana   Endurance Car Racing Nov. 1-2 FIA WEC – 8 Hours of Bahrain   Cycling Nov. 1 Cyclo-Cross (Men & Women): Oudenaarde   Nov. 11 Cyclo-Cross (Men & Women) Superprestige | NIEL   Triathlon Nov. 16-17 T100 Triathlon World Tour PTO Tour | Dubai   *Telecast will not be available in the local indicated market MAX PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHT: ELECTION COLLECTION With the upcoming 2024 election, Max is the one to watch for its extensive library of riveting political documentaries, films, and series available on the platform. Subscribers can stream fan favorites such as “The West Wing,” Academy Award® nominated films like “Frost/Nixon,” and much more.   Documenting Democracy  41 (HBO Original, 2012) 537 Votes (HBO Original, 2020) Agents of Chaos (HBO Original, 2020) American Dynasty: The Kennedys (CNN Original Series) Ethel (HBO Original, 2012) First Ladies (CNN Original Series) Four Hours at the Capitol (HBO Original, 2021) January 6th (2023) John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls (HBO Original, 2018)  Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (HBO Original) Pelosi in the House (HBO Original, 2022) Primary (1960) Q: Into the Storm (HBO Original, 2021) Race for the White House (CNN Original Series)    The Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power (CNN Original Series) The Final Year (HBO Original, 2018) The Perfect Weapon (HBO Original, 2020)  The Soul of America (HBO Original, 2020) The Swamp (HBO Original, 2020) The War Room (HBO Original, 1993) This Place Rules (HBO Original, 2022) Tricky Dick (CNN Original Series) Watergate: Blueprint for a Scandal (CNN Original Series) Year One: A Political Odyssey (HBO Original, 2022)   Campaign Drama  All the Way (HBO Original, 2016) Civil War (2024) Lincoln: Divided We Stand (CNN Original Series) Frost/Nixon (2008) Game Change (HBO Original, 2012) John Adams (HBO Original) Path to War (2002) Race for the White House (CNN Original Series) Recount (HBO Original, 2008) The Girls on the Bus (Max Original) The Newsroom (HBO Original) The Regime (HBO Original) The West Wing (Warner Bros. Television)   Political Punchlines     Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Original) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO Original) Veep (HBO Original) White House Plumbers (HBO Original) You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush (2009) TITLES COMING TO MAX IN NOVEMBER: *This list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change   November 1 A Christmas Carol (1938) A Christmas Story (1983) Another Earth (2011) Big Miracle (2012) Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) Dirty Harry (1971) Elf (2003) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) Goodfellas (1990) He's Just Not That Into You (2009) Janet Planet (2023) (A24) Jurassic Park (1993) Jurassic Park III (2001) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) The Addams Family 2 (2021) The Extra Man (2010) The Full Monty (1997) The Hangover (2009) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) The Other Side of the Door (2016) The Polar Express (2004) Unforgiven (1992) Unstoppable (2010) November 2 Cleats & Convos, Episode 104   November 3 Before They Kill Again, Season 1 (ID) Invincible Fight Girl, Season 1 (Adult Swim) Like Water For Chocolate (Como Agua Para Chocolate), Season 1 (HBO Original)   November 4 Holiday Wars, Season 6 (Food Network) (following linear debut)   November 5 Game Changers, Season 1 (Discovery) Holiday Baking Championship, Season 11 (Food Network) (following linear debut)   November 6 Fareed Zakaria Documentaries, Episode 201 – 204 Feuds Turned Fatal, Season 1 (ID)   November 7 Luva de Pedreiro: Viral Moves (Luva de Pedreiro - O Rei Da Jogada) (Max Original)   November 8 Christmas Cookie Challenge, Season 8 (Food Network) (following linear debut)   November 9 Cleats & Convos, Episode 106 Gold Rush, Season 15 (Discovery)   November 10 Build for Off-Road, Season 1   November 11 Bellator: Fight Week Paris, Season 7   November 12 Christina in the Country, Season 2 (HGTV) Moonshiners, Season 15 (Discovery) Operation Undercover, Season 1 (ID) TV on the Edge: Moments That Shaped Our Culture, Season 1 (CNN Original Series)   November 13 Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown (Food Network) (following linear debut) Call Me Ted Don't Hate Your House with the Property Brothers, Season 1 (HGTV)   November 14 A Very Merry Rickmas Yule Log Calcifer Yule Log Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid (CNN Films) Harry Potter: Fireplace (Yule Log) Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season 1 (Food Network) Lost Monster Files, Season 1 (Discovery) The Dog House: UK, Season 5 Christmas Special (Max Original)   November 15 Casi el Paraíso (2024) The Last Woodsmen, Season 1 (Discovery)   November 16 Cleats & Convos, Episode 107   November 17 Dune: Prophecy, Season 1 (HBO Original) Dynasties II, Season 1 (discovery+) First-Time Buyer's Club, Season 2 (OWN)   November 18 Watchmen: Chapter I (2024)   November 19 Night Is Not Eternal (HBO Original)   November 20 Fareed Zakaria Documentaries, Episode 205 Surveilled (HBO Original)   November 21 Human vs. Hamster (Max Original series by Magnolia Network) Mystery At Blind Frog Ranch, Season 4 (Discovery)  Mysteries of the Abandoned, Season 11 (Discovery) The Sex Lives of College Girls, Season 3 (Max Original)   November 25 Get Millie Black (HBO Original)   November 26 90 Day Pillow Talk: The Other Way, Season 6 (TLC) Chopped: Volume 3, Season 59 (Food Network)   November 27 Barnwood Builders, Season 19 (Magnolia Network) Good Bones, Season 9 (HGTV)   November 28 Mysteries of the Abandoned, Season 11 (Discovery) Second Chance Stage (Max Original series by Magnolia Network) Sweethearts (2024) (Max Original)   November 29 Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (HBO Original)   November 30 Cleats & Convos, Episode 108