The Avon Theatre Film Center hosted their 5th Annual gala - The Avon Red Carpet Festival on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at L'Escale at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor.  Displayed throughout the stunning setting were black & white photographs by famous French photographer, Stéphane Kossmann of movie stars on the Red Carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, including Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt,  Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone, and Madonna. Mr. Kossmann and the Samuel Owen Gallery in Greenwich, CT are generously donating 10% of all sales of the glamorous celebrity portraits throughout the month of February to the member-supported non-profit Avon Theatre. 

Co-chairs of the gala were Jean Doyen de Montaillou and Sabrina Forsythe.  Gideon Fountain served as the debonair auctioneer for the live auction.  Guests came dressed in glamorous evening gowns and tuxedoes and posed with "Oscar", a "life-size" statue painted from head to toe in gold!  The Bob Hardwick Sound had many guests dancing even before dinner was served!   Deborah and Chuck Royce, co-founders of the Avon, saluted Northern Trust for their lead corporate sponsorship of the gala since 2008; Moffly Media for their generous media support; and U.S. Trust.  Avon Advisory Board member, Joanna Heimbold, presented the Avon Award to honoree, Susie Baker of Greenwich.  Joanna's  heartfelt toast highlighted Susie's generous commitment to the arts and especially her leadership of the Avon's Education Initiative and Scholarship Essay Contest. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented Susie with an official proclamation from the U.S. Senate in gratitude for her many community projects in both the arts and the environment.  He thanked the Royces for restoring the 1939 theatre to its grandeur and for creating a premiere independent cinema serving the metro-New York area.  

The gala kicked off the Avon's celebration of Hollywood and their annual Oscar®-Nominated Film Festival which runs throughout February. The festival culminates with an Oscar®-Night Party at the Avon on Sunday, February 26 at which Terry and Diana Betteridge will be honored for their many contributions to the community.  For more details, visit: www.avontheatre.org/special_events.html#feb26