NEW YORK, NY.- The Film Benefit gala at The Museum of Modern Art, which honored the award-winning work of director, producer, and screenwriter Baz Luhrmann, raised $948,000 for the Museum’s collection of film.

Hugh Jackman served as Honorary Chair of the event; co-chairs were Jay Fielden, editor of Men’s Vogue; Antoine Arnault, Director of Communications at Louis Vuitton; Marie-Josée Kravis, President of the Museum’s Board of Trustees; and Jerry I. Speyer, Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees.

The event was made possible with the major support of Men’s Vogue and Louis Vuitton, and will raise funds to ensure that great works of cinema continue to join the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.

In addition to a cocktail reception and dinner, the evening included a tribute to Mr. Luhrmann by Mrs. Kravis and Mr. Jackman, recognizing Mr. Luhrmann as a groundbreaking director of such films as Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Moulin Rouge! (2001). The event’s 300 guests were treated to a special presentation made especially for this event by Mr. Luhrmann that included clips from his next feature film, Australia, which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and opens on November 26.

The Museum of Modern Art presented Mr. Luhrmann with a framed, original film still from The Wizard of Oz—Luhrmann’s favorite film in MoMA’s collection. The Museum also announced the acquisition of Luhrmann’s complete cinematic works for its film collection; as an artist in the collection Luhrmann also received a lifetime membership to the Museum.

The gala dinner in the Museum’s Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium featured a distinctly Australian theme in décor and menu. Elton John entertained the benefit’s guests with “Your Song” and “The Drover,” his new song from the movie Australia.

Among the Film Benefit’s guests were:
Eva Amurri; Jacinda Barrett; Jessica Biel; Joy Bryant; Rose Byrne; Georgina Chapman; Doo Ri Chung; Chiara Clemente; Barry Diller & Diane von Furstenberg; Massimo Ferragamo; Jeff Gordon; Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard; Carolina Herrera; Chanel Iman; Sir Elton John; Liya Kebede; Nicole Kidman; Zoe Kravitz; Ronald S. and Jo Carole Lauder; Annie Leibovitz; Elizabeth Moss; Carey Mulligan; Rupert & Wendi Deng Murdoch; Zac Posen; Miuccia Prada; Lee Radziwill; Narciso Rodriguez; Charlie Rose; Rachel Roy; Donald & Melania Trump; Ivanka Trump; Harvey Weinstein; Rachel Weisz; Anna Wintour.