Jacob Burns Film Center To Honor Producer Dori Berinstein Plus Preview of THE PROM

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC), a nonprofit cultural arts center and one of the most successful suburban film houses in the country, will celebrate its meaningful connection to Broadway by honoring two visionaries of the theater community at its gala, BUILDING IMAGINATION, on Monday, September 17th.

Tony-Winning Producer and Emmy-Award-Winning Director Dori Berinstein will receive the Vision Award and Robert Goldberg, a JBFC Board Member and President of Yorke Construction, will receive the first ever David Swope Leadership Award, named after JBFC's founding board member and chairman emeritus. Honorary Co-Chairs include Stage and Screen Actor Alan Cumming, Director and JBFC Board Member Ron Howard and Legendary Performer Bette Midler. Previous gala honorees include: Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme, and Julie Taymor.

Ms. Berinstein has been a long-time JBFC fan, friend, and supporter. She is the curator and moderator of JBFC's ongoing series Life on the Stage (in partnership with the Actors Fund), recently hosting a Q & A with the creative team behind The Band's Visit, winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Recently, on August 21 was a showing of the original 1933 classic King Kong followed by a conversation with the creative team behind Kong's fascinating transition from screen to technical marvel on stage.

Dori has been an instrumental part of extending Broadway's reach beyond the Great White Way through her documentary films and The Lights on Broadway Show Cards. That exposure also includes a special treat at this year's gala in previewing select numbers from her new Broadway Musical The Prom, which opens in October. The musical tells the story of a lesbian high school student from a small town in Indiana, who is not allowed to bring her girlfriend to the senior prom. Dori's other Broadway productions include Legally Blonde: The Musical (Olivier Award), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony Award) and Fool Moon (Tony Award).

Robert (Bob) Goldberg, JBFC Board Member and President of Yorke Construction, builds artistic vision. Yorke's legacy of serving the larger arts community can be felt around the region through their work with iconic and diverse cultural institutions such as Lincoln Center Theater, Stages for Success, New Victory Theater, and St. Ann's Warehouse. Bob literally brought JBFC's campus to life as Yorke built the five-screen Theater complex and 27,000 foot Media Arts Lab. A champion of the JBFC, Bob is particularly dedicated to Creative Culture, a fellowship and residency program that fosters diverse voices and a thriving artistic community from the region, across the country, and around the world.

"Dori and Bob share our commitment to building imagination," said JBFC Executive Director, Edie Demas. "We are proud and honored to recognize Dori and Bob for their creativity, and artistic vision, as well as their unwavering dedication to our film, media education, and fellowship programs."

All proceeds from Building Imagination fuels JBFC's mission to present unique programs such as Life on the Stage, teach students new ways to tell their stories, prepare educators to integrate viewing and creating media in their classroom culture, and empower emerging artists.

JBFC also recently announced its line-up of fall programming that includes an exciting slate of events such as the reintroduction of Jonathan Demme's Rarely Seen Cinema: Jenny Lumet Selects, The Best of the 2018 NY International Children's Film Festival, Contemporary Arab Cinema and much more.

For more information on Jacob Burns Film Center, visit https://burnsfilmcenter.org/film