Gala
NOFS Red Carpet Gala
The New Orleans Film Society’s Red Carpet Gala returns Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at The Jazz and Blues Market, an evening that kicks off the 37th New Orleans Film Festival presented by Andscape.
Jay Duplass is the 2026 Celluloid Hero.
The Celluloid Hero is the New Orleans Film Society’s highest individual honor, and few people fit it like Jay.
Born and raised in New Orleans (a Jesuit grad!), he and his brother Mark turned The Puffy Chair into a Sundance breakout that helped launch a generation of American independent film, then went on to Cyrus, Jeff, Who Lives at Home, HBO’s Togetherness, and Transparent, backing dozens of first-time filmmakers along the way.
Meet Jay in person and then see him on screen. Just days after the Gala, NOFF37 screens I Play Rocky, Peter Farrelly’s new film about how Sylvester Stallone refused to sell Rocky unless he could play the lead, with Jay in the cast, weeks before it opens in theaters.
NOFS Red Carpet Gala
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
The Jazz and Blues Market
1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
6 PM | Patron Party (VIP Only)
7 PM | Gala
10 PM | After Party
The Gala is more than a party. It is an investment in the future of Southern storytelling. Proceeds benefit NOFS’s year-round filmmaker programs, including the Emerging Voices Directors Lab, South Pitch, and the Southern Producers Lab, which have launched the careers of Oscar nominees and Emmy Award winners.
The Lumière Award goes to producer Josh Penn. He produced Beasts of the Southern Wild, the Louisiana-made film that won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. He is a Producers Guild Award nominee, a Peabody Award and Sundance Producers Award winner, and a longtime mentor, board member, and champion for the filmmakers coming up through NOFS programs.
VIP tickets ($500) include a seat at a table in the VIP section, access to the Patron Party at 6 PM, a sit-down dinner from New Orleans’ most celebrated chefs, and a place in the live auction. The evening features live music by Nu Groove, presented by Entertainment Sponsor Positive Vibrations Foundation, and tastings from craft cocktails to caviar, with dishes from Commander’s Palace, Cochon, Atchafalaya, and Galatoire’s, cocktails from the Sazerac Bar, canned mocktails from Mockly, and beer and seltzer from Southern Eagle.
General Admission tickets ($125) include a seat in the General Admission section, light bites, and an open bar. General Admission tickets do not include access to the VIP section or the Patron Party.
Everyone is invited to keep the celebration going at the After Party, presented by Liberty Bank, beginning at 10 PM.
Bringing together filmmakers, celebrities, patrons, and industry leaders, the Gala funds NOFS’ year-round filmmaker programs, including the Emerging Voices Directors Lab, South Pitch, and the Southern Producers Lab, which have launched the careers of Oscar nominees and Emmy Award winners. Every ticket is an investment in the future of Southern storytelling.
The 2026 Gala is made possible with support from ELEMENT, Liberty Bank, Positive Vibrations Foundation, and Sazerac.
Tickets are on sale now and tables are limited. Reserve yours today.
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Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Location: The Jazz and Blues Market
Schedule: Patron Party 6:00 PM | Gala 7:00 PM | After Party 10:00 PM
Attire: Red Carpet Cocktail
Want the full festival experience? Bundle your Gala ticket with an All Access Pass to the 37th New Orleans Film Festival and save.
Gala Committee:
Stephen Rehage
Valerie Lamb
Melissa Townsend
Doug Spearman
Laura Ashley
Greg Lucas
Ariel Wilson-Harris
Thank You to our 2026 Gala Sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 NOFS Gala? Email Lisa Davis, Development Director.
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & BLUES MARKET
LOCATION & PARKING
The New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market is located in the Central City neighborhood at 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans.
Paid parking is available in the Premium Parking P254 surface lot at 1727 Erato St. Additional street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. There are bicycle racks near the front entrance. (Bikes are not permitted in the venue.)
FACILITIES
There is a covered level approach to the front door with a 72-inch doorway and pull door handles. Inside, there is a level approach and expansive width and depth available to all floor seating.
At this time, the elevators to the upper bar and back portion of the raked seating section are out of order.
RESTROOMS
There are two accessible public restrooms, one with urinals and stalls, and the other with only stalls. There are no private restrooms available.
ACCESSIBILITY
Patrons may request any specific accommodation to NOFS events by completing this form.
Thank You to our 2026 Gala Sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 NOFS Gala? Email Lisa Davis, Development Director.
See photos from our enchanting 2025 Gala held on October 24, 2025 at The Civic Theater.
The 2025 Gala was hosted by the incomparable Judith Owen, will honor some of today’s most inspiring voices in film and music:
Lucinda Williams — Lifetime Achievement in Music and Film
Darcy McKinnon — Lumière Award
Guests savored extraordinary tasting experiences — from craft cocktails to caviar — featuring signature dishes from some of New Orleans’ most celebrated restaurants. Bid on incredible one-of-a-kind items during our thrilling live auction, and enjoyed an exclusive performance by Grammy Award–winning artist Nathaniel Rateliff, joined by special musical guests.
With only 250 seats available, this promises to be the most intimate and dazzling Gala of the year. We would be honored to celebrate with you.
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Location: The Civic Theater
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets on sale September 15, 2025
Table (10 top): $5,000
Tickets: $500
Attire: Red Carpet Cocktail
Cuisine generously provided by:
Altima Caviar
Brechtel Hospitality
Commander’s Palace
Galatoire’s
Li’l Dizzy Cafe
Link Restaurant Group
The Chloe
Gala Committee:
Chair: Stephen Rehage
Laura Ashley
Valerie Lamb
Greg Lucas
Doug Spearman
Melissa Townsend
Don’t miss this special evening bringing together filmmakers, celebrities, patrons, and industry leaders for an unforgettable night supporting NOFS’s year-round independent filmmaker programs.
The gala is NOFS’s largest fundraiser and directly supports the work of independent filmmakers. Each year, the New Orleans Film Society honors noted figures in the film industry, especially the Louisiana film industry. Past galas have honored film professionals and local film supporters including John Goodman (2011), the Beasts of the Southern Wild director, Benh Zeitlin (2012), Matthew McConaughey (2015) – who delivered his famous love letter to New Orleans, the cast of NCIS New Orleans (2016), Susan Brennan (2019), Alexa Georges (2022), and Elston Howard (2023) and Edward Buckles Jr (2023).
Thank you to all who joined, supported, and honored the New Orleans Film Society at our previous galas.
See photos from our enchanting 2024 Gala honoring Bryan Batt as our Celluloid Hero held on April 13th at Kevin Kelly’s Townhouse and the 735 Camp St Warehouse space in the Downtown Arts District. See photos of the Patron Party here, the Gala here, and the Red Carpet here.
See photos from our beautiful 2023 Gala honoring Elston Howard as our Celluloid Hero and Edward Buckles Jr as our first Rising Star held on April 22nd at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport here and here.
See photos from the magnificent 2022 Gala honoring Alexa Georges held on April 2nd at the Four Seasons New Orleans on our Instagram page and Facebook album.
See photos from the 2019 30th Anniversary Gala honoring Susan Brennan at the enchanting Farrell Estate on St. Charles Avenue here.
See photos from the 2018 Midnight in the Garden Gala here and step & repeat here.
See photos from the 2017 Gala at the Magnolia Mansion here.
See photos from the 2016 Gala honoring the cast of NCIS New Orleans here.
See photos from the 2015 Gala honoring Matthew McConaughey here.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Please join us in embracing our community guidelines at all NOFS events by:
- Acknowledging with gratitude the land we occupy as the colonized Indigenous space known first as Bulbancha
- Sustaining authentic relationships with our neighbors, especially the Afro-descendent communities that continually shape New Orleans
- Including people equitably of every race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, ability, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, age, physical appearance, language, citizenship, and socioeconomic status
- Protecting each other’s health amidst an ongoing global pandemic
- Treating others with dignity and respect, especially NOFS volunteers and staff implementing NOFS policies and procedures
- Enjoying alcohol and other refreshments responsibly and mindfully
We will not permit:
- Disruptive behavior of any kind that interferes with NOFS events
- Non-compliance with the direction of NOFS staff and volunteers regarding NOFS policies and procedures
- Verbal or physical harassment, including abusive language and gestures, threats, cursing, or sexual language directed at others
- Any form of discrimination or harassment, including, but not limited to, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sexism, or body shaming
- Using firearms or other dangerous weapons in NOFS spaces to intimidate or harm volunteers, staff, or attendees
By purchasing a ticket and entering NOFS event spaces, you agree to join us in this Code of Conduct. If you are found to be in violation of these agreements, you may be removed from events by a designated staff member. If you witness or experience a violation of these agreements, we encourage you to report the incident anonymously via this form or by email at info@neworleansfilmsociety.org.
By entering NOFS event spaces, you consent to photography and recording (audio and video) and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by NOFS and its affiliates and representatives.