Welcome Remarks for 16th Annual Showcase of Academy Award–Nominated Films

McGowan Theater, National Archives Building, Washington, DC
February 5, 2020
 

Good evening, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives. I’m David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I’m very pleased to be here to kick off our five-day showcase of Academy Award–nominated documentaries and short subjects.

This year marks the 16th consecutive year we’ve hosted these screenings, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in partnership with the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation. We are honored to provide Washington, DC, filmgoers the opportunity to see all of these wonderful films for free.

We thank the staff of the Academy for all their help and guidance in planning and executing these screenings—in particular, Manager of Public Programming Julie Gumpert and Film Services Manager Bruce Younger.

We’ll show the last of the Feature Documentary Nominees—Honeyland—on Sunday, February 9, and the film will end in time for you to watch the awards ceremony on television that night.

To keep informed about events throughout the year, check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You’ll also find information about other National Archives programs and activities.

Also in the lobby, you can see an actual Academy Award. Charles Guggenheim’s Oscar for the 1964 film Nine from Little Rock is on permanent display outside the theater.

The driving force behind these special screenings is the partnership between the National Archives Foundation and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. 

The Foundation, as the Archives’ nonprofit partner, has raised millions of dollars from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support the work of the National Archives. Alongside our National Archives staff, the Foundation has helped to develop exhibits, public programs, educational activities, publications, and internet components both here in Washington, DC, and nationwide. To learn more about the National Archives Foundation, please visit their website at www.archivesfoundation.org.

And now, without further ado, is tonight’s film. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature, here is The Cave.

Thank you for coming, and enjoy the show.