(Long Island, NY) Ingrid Bergman’s (August 29, 1915 – August 29, 1982) Centennial is the spark for The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center’s campaign to raise funds for its programming and to promote its mission – Celebrating the magic and power of film as an art form and as a medium for multicultural exchange and social responsibility. The events will be hosted by Ingrid Bergman’s daughter, Isabella Rossellini, actor, filmmaker, and model.
“I cannot think of a more perfect timing to launch The Plaza’s first Annual Gala this year. The world is celebrating one of its most luminous stars, and her daughter, Isabella Rossellini, who lives right here, has been a dedicated Plaza supporter since it first opened in October 2011”, says Campbell Dalglish, President of The Board of Trustees.
Ingrid Bergman won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. The American film Institute has ranked her as fourth on a list of the 25 greatest actresses of all time in American cinema.
People who come to the Gala will enjoy a sneak preview of the yet-to-be-released documentary Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words. Ms. Rossellini, who will be present to discuss the film, says: “It is a very truthful portrait of my mother. She was very independent and dedicated to her career, and she was condemned for not being at home more and being married three times. In the documentary, Stig [Björkman, the director,] interviewed the four children, and we all have different reactions.”
Since May the film has been receiving accolades at prestigious festivals such as Cannes. It will begin its theatrical run November 13 at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in New York before adding Los Angeles’ Nuart on December 11. It also has a spot in the upcoming New York Film Festival. Dalglish says: “It is a coup for The Plaza in Patchogue to be able to screen this film well in advance of its wide release in the U.S.”
The Plaza 1st Annual Gala hosted by Isabella Rossellini, Thursday October 22, 6 – 10 PM
The Mediterranean Manor, 303 E. Main St. in Patchogue . Tickets are $125 and must be pre-purchased at The Plaza Box Office or online at www.plazamac.org (includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, film, and discussion with Ms. Rossellini).
Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words
Director Stig Björkman’s focus is not on Bergman the star, but on Bergman the woman and mother. Orphaned at 13, drawn to acting on the stage and then on film, sailing for Hollywood at 24, she left it all behind for a new and different life with Roberto Rossellini. Ingrid Bergman in Her Own Words is, finally, a self-portrait of a truly independent woman.
Ingrid Bergman Retrospective, October 10 – December 19
To further celebrate, The Plaza is launching an Ingrid Bergman Retrospective – a series of the star’s most significant films: Gaslight, Notorious, Anastasia and Murder on the Orient Express. Guest speakers will include film expert Peter Mascuch, PhD, from St. Joseph’s College.
Isabella Rossellini will also be signing a new book she edited, Ingrid Bergman: A Life In Pictures (Dates TBA)
General Admission $15, Students $13, Members $11. All Saturday matinees start at 10:30 AM, and all Thursday evening screenings start at 6:30 PM. Saturday Brunch andThursday Wine and Cheese pairing are optional at an additional charge.
The schedule is as follows:
- Gaslight (1944) – October 10 & 15
Bergman won her first Oscar for her startlingly transparent acting as the tormented wife being driven mad by her husband in this classic Victorian-set thriller. - Notorious (1946) – October 24 & 29
In one of Hitchcock’s best movies, Bergman is its dynamic center, giving a passionate, touching, and extraordinarily erotic performance in this celebrated spy thriller. - Anastasia (1956) – November 7 & 12
Is she or isn’t she? Bergman won her second Oscar as an amnesiac postwar refugee who impersonates a surviving daughter of Russia’s last czar. Her emotional authenticity makes the movie memorable. - Murder on the Orient Express (1974) – December 5 & 10
This was the first of what would become an elegant and lavish cycle of Agatha Christie adaptations with all-star casts. Bergman’s star turn is so appealing that it won her a third Oscar the same year that Godfather II won Best Picture.
About the Plaza Media Arts Center, a 501 (c) (3) Organization
The Plaza Cinema and Media Arts Center is a movie theater in Patchogue, NY, located one block south of Main Street at 20 Terry Street. Since it’s origin in 2010, the 501(c)(3) charitable organization, has provided current quality films, series, and showcases; ballet, opera, and theater in cinema; classes, workshops, and film discussions; and live events, including stand-up comedy and music. The Plaza’s exclusive Blue Velvet Lounge boasts fine wine and local craft beer, as well as fresh popcorn and other concession items. For more information, please visit www.plazamac.org or call 631.438.0083.
