The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announces its new film series, public events, and education programs for the spring season. Programming includes a 20th anniversary screening of The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) with Judd Apatow; Enter The Matrix: A Conversation with Lyndon Barrois Sr. and Lilly Wachowski; the 4K west coast restoration premiere of Jean-Luc Godard’s A Woman Is a Woman (1961); a book signing with author Marya E. Gates (Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words) preceding a screening of Gas Food Lodging (1992) and a conversation between Gates and director Allison Anders; a book signing and conversation with authors Ira M. Resnick and Raissa Bretaña for their new book Moxie: The Daring Women of Classic Hollywood ; the Careers in Film Summit, offering free workshops, demonstrations, and more; a Cyberpunk gallery spotlight with director Alex Rivera, delving into the genre’s influence and Rivera’s work on Sleep Dealer (2008); Emotion in Color: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema; Raising the Lantern: A Celebration of Chinese-Language Cinema ; Something Mysterious: The Art of Philip Seymour Hoffman; the third annual May the 4th Celebration, featuring a force of public programs and screenings; and more.
The Academy Museum will also present Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho , a film series programmed to accompany the museum’s new exhibition of the same name, opening on March 23. The series includes special appearances from celebrated filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, including a conversation with legendary filmmaker and composer John Carpenter for a screening of The Thing (1982) on March 22, a conversation with actor Steven Yeun for the March 23 screening of Okja (2017), and a conversation ahead of the Parasite (2019) screening on March 23.
Fanny’s will celebrate Korean cuisine with a special weekly menu inspired by Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho beginning March 23. In addition to the restaurant’s regular menu, the Korean Sunday Supper menu will feature a rotating selection of traditional Korean dishes crafted by Fanny’s Chef Jun Bum Oh, such as bibimbap with seasonal banchan, and galbi jjim, along with a selection of cinema-inspired craft cocktails. The Korean Sunday Supper series will run through the duration of the exhibition; reservations can be made via OpenTable and Resy, or by emailing info@fannysla.com.
On May 23, to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer , the museum will host an in-depth conversation with the Oscar-nominated production designers, followed by a screening of Barbie (2023).
“We’re excited to offer visitors an eclectic and unique lineup of programming this season, made possible by working in partnership with some of the most prolific filmmakers of our time,” said Director and President Amy Homma. “From dynamic exhibitions, exciting conversation programs, family-friendly workshops, and full-museum activations like our May the 4th celebration, we work with our local community and artists of all crafts to bring a range of experiences for families and movie lovers alike—only available at the Academy Museum.”
SPOTLIGHTS
On March 6, the Academy Museum presents the west coast restoration premiere of Jean-Luc Godard’s A Woman Is a Woman (Une femme est une femme) (1961) in 4K . As Godard’s first color film, this operatic romantic comedy stars Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Brialy, and Jean-Paul Belmondo. With Godard’s signature halting edits, playful fourth-wall breaks, and Michel Legrand’s jaunty score, the film remains a paradigm-shifting take on the rom-com.
On March 19, the museum will screen Allison Anders’ Gas Food Lodging (1992) in 35mm , bringing a poignant exploration of family, resilience, and small-town dreams. Prior to the screening, author Marya E. Gates will sign copies of her book Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words (Rizzoli) and join Anders for a conversation on women in filmmaking
On March 27, the museum will present the North American restoration premiere of Michel Soutter’s Faces of Love (Repérages) (1977) in 4K. Starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Delphine Seyrig, this intimate Swiss classic follows a film director rekindling romance with his ex-wife during a Chekhov-inspired production near Lake Geneva.
On May 2, director, producer, and co-writer Judd Apatow will take the stage for the 20th Anniversary screening of The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) . Apatow’s breakout feature redefined modern R-rated comedy, chronicling the misadventures of an inexperienced electronics store clerk and his well-intentioned but hapless friends. With an all-star ensemble including Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann and Elizabeth Banks, the film remains a cultural touchstone two decades later.
On May 23, the museum welcomes audiences to an evening with production designers Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer in celebration of their stunning cinematic worlds. Marking the opening of the exhibition Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, this program will explore how Greenwood and Spencer develop the visual concept and overall look of a movie, crafting environments that convey time, place, and character. Celebrating the World of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer with Barbie will begin with an in-depth conversation with Greenwood and Spencer about their creative process and their celebrated collaborations, followed by a screening of Barbie (2023)
On May 30, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1948) will be screened in a rare 35mm nitrate print. This claustrophobic thriller stars James Stewart, John Dall, and Farley Granger in a chilling story of intellectual hubris and murder, inspired by the Leopold and Loeb case. Shot in long, meticulously choreographed takes with minimal cuts, Rope showcases Hitchcock’s bold experimentation with form.
LIMITED FILM SERIES
From March 7 to April 19, the Academy Museum presents Emotion in Color: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema , guest programmed by filmmaker and Film Heritage Foundation founding director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. This series highlights the extraordinary depth and diversity of Indian cinema, showcasing films across eras, regions, languages, and genres. Audiences will experience a vibrant array of films—from grand period epics to feminist narratives set in colonial times, from political dramas to romantic escapism and experimental storytelling. These films celebrate the evolution of color in Indian cinema and its profound impact on cinematic expression.
March 12 to May 30, the Academy Museum presents encore screenings of Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema . This film series, accompanying the museum’s PST ART exhibition of the same name, explores cyberpunk’s influence on global cinema. Featuring films set in near-future worlds that juxtapose technological advancements with social upheaval, the series highlights rebellious protagonists challenging oppressive systems. Visitors will experience visionary works from celebrated filmmakers, including restored classics and contemporary interpretations of the genre. As part of the museum’s commitment to accessibility, general admission visitors and museum members can attend same-day screenings in this series free of charge.
To accompany the opening of the exhibition Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho , the museum presents a retrospective of the same name celebrating the Oscar-winning director’s body of work from March 22 to April 14. Bong Joon Ho’s films—blending realism and fantasy with shifting tones of horror, humor, and social critique—have redefined contemporary Korean cinema. This series revisits his first seven feature films, beginning with a special screening of John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), a film that deeply influenced Bong’s distinct aesthetic. Tickets for The Thing will first go on presale to museum members on February 19, followed by a public sale on February 21. The series offers a deep dive into the artistry and narrative ingenuity of this genre-bending master.
April 10 to May 24, the Academy Museum will screen Raising the Lantern: A Celebration of Chinese-Language Cinema , guest programmed by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang. This series spotlights Chinese-language films submitted to the Oscars’ International Feature Film category over the past four decades. The program reflects Yang’s personal journey, from discovering Chinese cinema in her youth to championing it in Hollywood. Audiences will experience a diverse collection of films that transcend national divides, showcasing the rich storytelling traditions and cinematic achievements of Chinese-language filmmakers. The series runs from April 10 to May 24.
Finally, the museum presents Something Mysterious: The Art of Philip Seymour Hoffman from April 21 to May 29, a program that celebrates the legacy of Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of Hollywood’s most versatile and acclaimed actors. The series includes a selection of his films, including his Oscar-winning performance in Capote (2005), alongside other notable projects. It highlights Hoffman’s collaborations with filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson, the Coen Brothers, Spike Lee, and more. This retrospective explores his distinctive approach to acting, his profound ability to bring humanity to any role, and his lasting impact on cinema. This series is programmed in conjunction with the spring season of our ongoing Oscar® Sundays series, which features several of Hoffman’s Oscar-nominated films.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
On March 9, the Academy Museum welcomes authors Ira M. Resnick and Raissa Bretaña for a book signing and conversation to discuss their new book Moxie: The Daring Women of Classic Hollywood, which profiles 15 leading ladies during the studio system—a period from the 1920s to the 1950s when a small number of companies dominated the production and distribution of films in America.
On March 19, the museum presents Cinema Her Way with Gas Food Lodging in 35mm. Visitors can join film critic and historian Marya E. Gates for a signing of her book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words (Rizzoli), which celebrates the contributions of women directors to cinema, featuring in-depth conversations about their filmmaking processes and journeys in the film industry. Following the signing, Gates will join director and writer Allison Anders for a conversation, which will be followed by a screening of Anders’ 1992 film Gas Food Lodging.
On March 22, the Academy Museum presents The Magic of Mary Poppins–A Visual Effects Demo with Paul Debevec. The Academy Award®–winning visual effects artist will explain and demonstrate the legendary sodium vapor matting process, used to insert Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews into the animated world of dancing penguins—a nearly lost technique that still rivals the quality of bluescreen and greenscreen today. This program is free with general admission and will be hosted in the Shirley Temple Education Studio at 12:30pm before a screening of Mary Poppins (1964) in the Ted Mann Theater at 2:30pm.
From April 5–6, the Academy Museum presents the Careers in Film Summit 2025. This free annual program aims to raise awareness about the wide range of film industry career pathways, focusing on opportunities behind the camera. The day includes demonstrations, workshops, complimentary professional headshots, a photo activation, and free entry to museum galleries with a Summit ticket. Special guests include director and producer Carlos López Estrada, writer and director Pete Docter, and more to be announced.
This spring, Academy Museum presents Curator’s View Tours, offering a deeper understanding of the museum’s exhibitions from the perspective of the curatorial team. On April 11, Curator’s View Tours: Encounters will focus on the Inventing Worlds and Characters: Encounters gallery, where visitors will encounter iconic heroes, monsters, and everything in between from the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, led by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jenny He.
The Academy Museum welcomes visual artist and VFX director Lyndon Barrois Sr. and filmmaker Lilly Wachowski for Enter the Matrix: A Conversation with Lyndon Barrois Sr. and Lilly Wachowski on April 19. This program will explore the Wachowski’s Matrix trilogy, delving into its groundbreaking visual effects, immersive world-building, and lasting impact on storytelling within the cyberpunk genre.
On May 4 visitors can celebrate with Star Wars-inspired programming. The May the 4th Celebration: Exploring the Galaxy will include a community mural, Space and Beyond tours, a R2-D2 meet and greet, Save the Galaxy with Cosplay for Science immersive activities with scientists, a Force Show and Demonstration, screenings of Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode V–The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and more.
On May 16, Curator’s View Tours: Designing to Music will take guests through the Identity galleries to explore character design through iconic costumes, makeup, and hairstyling. The tour will then highlight how costume designers and artists create unforgettable movie musical moments, led by Collections Curator Laura Mart.
Also on May 16, explore the world of cyberpunk in Gallery Spotlight: Cyberpunk with Alex Rivera , as the writer and director delves into the genre, its key themes, and its impact on the portrayal of technology and society. Rivera will discuss his own cyberpunk film, Sleep Dealer (2009), and share insights into his collaboration with the Academy Museum on the Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema exhibition.
